A list of former teammates of Jarome Luai have been raised as potential targets of the PNG Chiefs following the revelation the NRL’s 19th franchise are giving the playmaker the “opportunity to build his own team”.
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On Tuesday afternoon, it was reported that Luai had told Tigers teammates that he would be joining the Chiefs from 2028 following a weekend visit to Port Moresby over the weekend.
The Daily Telegraph’s Dave Riccio explained on NRL360 how the Chiefs were able to convince Luai to be the franchise’s marquee signing.
“They want him to be their front man and ultimately said to Jarome when he flew up over the weekend, ‘come and build your NRL team’,” Riccio revealed.
“What an opportunity. Have you ever heard of an club speaking to their No. 1 target that you can have a major say on the entire structure of the rugby league team?”
Luai’s contract with the Tigers included a contract clause allowing him to depart the club early. He triggered said clause before the required date (April 30), meaning he’s able to exit the Tigers at the end of next season.
With Luai now locked in for 2028, focus has shifted to what other big fish the Chiefs could try and land.
As Riccio said, Luai will effectively “operate as a recruitment agent” over the next 12 months or so.
NRL360 ran a graphic which displayed the former or current teammates of Luai who go off contract at the end of next year and are free to negotiate with rivals from November 1.
The list included Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin, Terrell May, Mitch Kenny, Matt Burton, Taylan May, Sunia Turuva, Jahream Bula and Moses Leota.
As foxsports.com.au’s Paul Crawley noted, the tax free contracts on offer means the Chiefs will have the scope to add several marquee players instead of just “two or three” the salary cap limits other teams to.
“You’ve got many of these guys who would stand up as marquee players but it’s not just two or three marquee players because of the way the tax system is going to work. Guys on $700,000 then become $1.2 million players,” Crawley said.
While there were a smattering of players from both the Tigers and Panthers who become free agents on November 1, it’s Penrith fans who should be worried according to NRL360 host Braith Anasta.
“I actually think it’s more the Panthers who should be concerned. They’re the best team in the comp and can’t possibly keep everyone and retain their stars,” Anasta explained.
“The Panthers have had their success. They’ve won premierships, their mindset changes when you’re older, you think kids, family. It changes everything when you’ve won that many premierships.”
“Every single (Panthers) player on that list has earned the right to do his best for the final years of their career for what they’ve achieved at the club,” Crawley added while Riccio named three players who could be most suspectable to following Luai to Papua New Guinea.
“There’s three names on that list specifically for me. That’s Brian To’o, Mitch Kenny and Liam Martin.”
Luai Lure: Who could be next for PNG? | 02:47
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Ever since a PNG team was floated as a potential NRL option for expansion a few years ago, there have been doubts on whether a team based in Port Moresby would work.
Those doubts or concerns were still evident even after the NRL’s announcement that a PNG team would be able to offer players tax-free salaries.
But, the news of Luai’s signing could see a seismic shift in how not just other potential free agents feel about a move to Port Moresby but how seriously rival clubs take the recruiting power of the Chiefs.
According to Anasta, “it’s a significant day for rugby league”.
“It opens the eyes of rival clubs and what they face for any potential players the Chiefs may line up next to go after because the entire game works under a salary cap except the Chiefs,” Crawley said
It led to Riccio making a bizarre prediction which could come to fruition if several star players follow Luai’s lead.
“I firmly believe and this sounds odd, but the Chiefs will become one of the more hated teams in the competition from rival clubs point of view. Fans will be upset,” Riccio said.
“Let’s not underestimate the major advantage the Chiefs have through the tax free dollars. Therefore, they are going to start picking the eyes out of (other teams) and he (Luai) is the major domino.”
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