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NRL Market Watch: Penrith Panthers baulk at Jarome Luai’s reported $1.4 million offer
The Penrith Panthers have tabled their offer to Jarome Luai, and while it’s a big number, it’s nowhere near what the reigning premiers believe has been thrown at their star five-eighth.
NRL: Wests Tigers are reportedly closer to offering Jarome Luai a 4 million dollar contract to leave the Premiers.
Penrith boss Brian Fletcher says the money being offered to Jarome Luai is “ridiculous” and he’s heard that one rival club is prepared to make the Panthers five-eighth the equal highest paid player in the NRL.
The call comes as Fletcher also outlined plans to secure Nathan Cleary to a lifetime deal to avoid the Penrith scrumbase being completely torn apart.
Fletcher suspects one NRL rival has offered Luai up to $1.4 million a season – which would equal Newcastle Dally M superstar Kalyn Ponga’s current salary as the biggest deal in NRL history.
The Luai-Cleary alliance has piloted the Panthers to four consecutive grand finals and three premierships, but Fletcher concedes the champions face a huge fight to keep the Samoan Test ace.
While Penrith’s two-year extension is worth around $850,000 a season, Luai could pocket an extra $1.5 million to $2m if he signed a more lucrative five-year deal with an NRL rival.
Fletcher revealed the true extent of Penrith’s desperate battle to keep Cleary’s scrumbase partner-in-crime.
“I’ve heard Jarome has had offers of up to $1.4 million,” he said.
“Whether that’s right or wrong, I can’t tell you, but it’s a lot of money and if he chooses to take that sort of money, you can’t be crook on the bloke.
“He’s playing with us next year, but with the money he is being offered, it makes it difficult for us.
“The money that Jarome is being offered by the Tigers and some other clubs is ridiculous. We can’t compete with that.
“Look, if Jarome can get massive money like we’re hearing, well we’re happy for him and we wish him all the best.
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“Obviously our preference is for Jarome to stay. We’d love him to be here, but if he decides to go, it’s not a terrible thing for us.
“Our offer has been made and we can’t budge on that. He has to weigh up the balance between money and success.
“I can understand if Jarome wants to do the best in life and earn the money now that he can. If he gets all that extra money, he will have our blessing to go, but we’d love for Jarome to sign a new deal with us.
“It’s really up to him and his management to decide what’s best for him.
“Either way, whatever decision he makes, Jarome is a lucky boy.”
The Panthers are keen to keep halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai together – but not at any price. Picture: Jonathan Ng
Meanwhile, Fletcher believes Cleary can play NRL until the age of 40 and declared he will be a Panther for life, claiming fans will “kill us” if the champion halfback is ever lost to the three-time premiers.
Cleary is signed until the end of 2027 but the Panthers are determined to take the talismanic playmaker off the open market for the long haul as they wage an uphill battle to keep his scrumbase cohort Luai.
Wests Tigers coach Benji Marshall has met with the off-contract Luai and it is understood Cleary’s halves partner faces a massive financial sacrifice to remain at the foot of the mountains beyond next season.
Cleary is on $1.3 million a season and the potential loss of Luai would give Penrith the fiscal strength under the salary cap to ensure the NSW Origin maestro stays at the Panthers for 2030 and beyond.
“There’s no way we will lose Nathan Cleary,” Fletcher said.
“We will keep him here for life and hopefully the same goes for Ivan (Cleary, Panthers coach).
“Nathan and his father are here until 2027 and there’s plenty of time for us to extend them.
“We’d love to have Nathan here for even longer.
“To be honest, Nathan could play till he’s 40 he is that good.
“With the way the modern game is with training methods and sports science, I believe he could get to 40.
“The fans would kill us if we let Nathan Cleary go – it won’t be happening on my watch.”
I do wish that Nathan would take a bit of a hit so we can 'keep the band together' - Like Tom Brady did with the Patriots.
Look at this post on Facebook 
