Wests Tigers marquee man Jarome Luai has until April 30 next year to trigger a three-year option in his contract to remain at the club beyond the end of 2026.
While Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson trumpeted Luai’s signing as a five-year deal, this masthead revealed his contract is for an initial two-year period, which expires at the end of 2026, with a three-year option in his favour to stay at the club until the end of 20
Benji Marshall delivers a clear analysis of the Wests Tigers win against the Sydney Roosters.
Luai has until the start of round nine next year to decide on his future, but is free to open negotiations with rival clubs on November 1 this year if he chooses to test the market. The Tigers remain hopeful the NSW five-eighth will recommit to the club.
The 28-year-old is enjoying life at the Tigers and is one of coach Benji Marshall’s staunchest supporters.
Advertisement
The Tigers have made it clear Marshall’s position is safe despite a recent run of six consecutive losses, which ended on the weekend with an impressive win over the Sydney Roosters.
By round nine next year, Luai will likely know whether the Tigers are planning to stick with Marshall in the long term, a move that would be looked upon favourably by their star playmaker.
It comes as Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has been tossed up to rival clubs as a prospective November 1 target.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity told this masthead that Bula’s manager, Isaac Moses, has already begun gauging interest from rival NRL clubs on behalf of his client.
Moses, who oversaw Lachlan Galvin’s tumultuous departure from the club this year, took over as Bula’s manager after his previous agent, Liam Ayoub, left the industry to join the Bulldogs as recruitment manager.
If the Tigers decide to exercise the option, Bula will play the 2027 season on a salary of $900,000. If the Tigers decide against retaining Bula at that price, he has the opportunity of taking up a player option at $800,000.
Moses, however, will not earn any income from a contract negotiated by another agent and would only earn a percentage of Bula’s pay if he were to negotiate a new contract with the Tigers or a rival club.
If the Tigers don’t take up Bula’s option by November 1 this year, Moses can begin formal negotiations with rival clubs for the 2027 season.
The Tigers are also expected to begin discussions with South Sydney about the future of Jayden Sullivan. The playmaker still has two years to run on his deal with the Tigers, which is worth about $600,000 a year.
Wests Tigers agreed to release Sullivan on loan to the Rabbitohs this year, with Souths chipping in about $150,000 for his services.
The Rabbitohs have indicated they are willing to keep Sullivan at the club for another season but want the Tigers to make a similar financial contribution.
The Storm have a lot of middles, a few quite young (Suli Pole is one such). They will have to let at least one go. I would prefer an up & coming middle like Suli but Kamikamica does offer a ton of experience which I think is valuable at our club. He also understands how successful systems & teams are built. On a 1 or 2 year contract he could be good. There is a Fiji connection at the club as well. But other clubs such as the Knights are desperate for good, experienced middles as well.
Wests Tigers marquee man Jarome Luai has until April 30 next year to trigger a three-year option in his contract to remain at the club beyond the end of 2026.
While Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson trumpeted Luai’s signing as a five-year deal, this masthead revealed his contract is for an initial two-year period, which expires at the end of 2026, with a three-year option in his favour to stay at the club until the end of 20
Benji Marshall delivers a clear analysis of the Wests Tigers win against the Sydney Roosters.
Luai has until the start of round nine next year to decide on his future, but is free to open negotiations with rival clubs on November 1 this year if he chooses to test the market. The Tigers remain hopeful the NSW five-eighth will recommit to the club.
The 28-year-old is enjoying life at the Tigers and is one of coach Benji Marshall’s staunchest supporters.
Advertisement
The Tigers have made it clear Marshall’s position is safe despite a recent run of six consecutive losses, which ended on the weekend with an impressive win over the Sydney Roosters.
By round nine next year, Luai will likely know whether the Tigers are planning to stick with Marshall in the long term, a move that would be looked upon favourably by their star playmaker.
It comes as Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has been tossed up to rival clubs as a prospective November 1 target.
Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity told this masthead that Bula’s manager, Isaac Moses, has already begun gauging interest from rival NRL clubs on behalf of his client.
Moses, who oversaw Lachlan Galvin’s tumultuous departure from the club this year, took over as Bula’s manager after his previous agent, Liam Ayoub, left the industry to join the Bulldogs as recruitment manager.
If the Tigers decide to exercise the option, Bula will play the 2027 season on a salary of $900,000. If the Tigers decide against retaining Bula at that price, he has the opportunity of taking up a player option at $800,000.
Moses, however, will not earn any income from a contract negotiated by another agent and would only earn a percentage of Bula’s pay if he were to negotiate a new contract with the Tigers or a rival club.
If the Tigers don’t take up Bula’s option by November 1 this year, Moses can begin formal negotiations with rival clubs for the 2027 season.
The Tigers are also expected to begin discussions with South Sydney about the future of Jayden Sullivan. The playmaker still has two years to run on his deal with the Tigers, which is worth about $600,000 a year.
Wests Tigers agreed to release Sullivan on loan to the Rabbitohs this year, with Souths chipping in about $150,000 for his services.
The Rabbitohs have indicated they are willing to keep Sullivan at the club for another season but want the Tigers to make a similar financial contribution.
I am as big a fan as anybody of Jahream & I’m hoping he’s at our club for the next 5 years at least. He will be on big money after this current contract expires and we will have to upgrade before 2026 as well so I’m thinking he will be on substantial money come 2028. I’d think Luai, Latu & Jahream (sounds good) will be on something like $3,000,000-3,200,000 come 2028. Our 9, if Api, will be on approx $600,000-700,000 as well. That’s a decent whack of your Cap although it will go up so not too bad in that case. But I think it’s important to remember we have Luke Laulilii whose best position is without any doubt fullback. Luke is only 19 this year and let’s remember Jahream wasn’t an NRL fullback until he was 21 or so. We also have two very good young prospects in Flegg, Logan Brooks & Tino Tavana who could also develop well next year or two. Point is there should be other options for the club should Jahream not extend. Let’s see what happens over the next year or two.
I do not think Bula is worth 900k has a long way to go to demand that will be interesting this one could get a huge pay packet moving to Perth ..not to fussed either way not at 900K.
I do not think Bula is worth 900k has a long way to go to demand that will be interesting this one could get a huge pay packet moving to Perth ..not to fussed either way not at 900K.
I think we are best to take up the clubs option... but leave it as late as possible to make Isaac Moses work.
Then we have an additional year to convince Bula to remain.
Bula is one of our best players week-in week-out... therefore worth the 900K IMO.
🟠 RUMOUR WATCH: HARRISON HASSETT TO THE TIGERS? ⚫️
The rumour mill is starting to warm up again, and this time, it’s Penrith back-rower Harrison Hassett (again) in the crosshairs, with whispers emerging that the Wests Tigers have serious interest.
For those unfamiliar, here’s a quick snapshot: Hassett is a 21-year-old former Australian Schoolboys rep and the 2021 Penrith SG Ball Player of the Year. He’s been in the Panthers system for years, waiting patiently behind names like Liam Martin, Luke Garner, Scott Sorensen, and Lindsey Smith.
Despite being stuck in a stacked system, Hassett has quietly built an impressive CV in NSW Cup, consistently one of the most efficient defenders on the park, averaging around 95% tackle efficiency. Predominantly an edge forward, he’s also been used through the middle and brings strong line-running ability and physicality wherever he lines up.
Rewind to the pre-season, there was some buzz around a Will Craig-for-Hassett swap between the Tigers and Panthers, but it never got off the ground. At the time, the Tigers were still figuring out how reliable our backs stocks were, and to their credit, a few boys have stepped up nicely.
Hassett and Mavrik Geyer have been going head-to-head for a spot in Ivan Cleary’s 17. Geyer has had a few cracks and looked… okay. But in Round 12, Hassett finally got a shot, and in a well-beaten side against Newcastle, he stood out: ✅ 1 line break ✅ 3 tackle busts ✅ 1 try ✅ 92.8% tackle efficiency
He didn’t get a mountain of ball, but he made every carry count.
Since then, he’s been left out of the 17, and just this week, all signs pointed to him finally cracking the game-day squad. From all accounts, he was set to wear the No. 17 jersey, and it was even mentioned in an interview he did with The Western Weekender. But in a last-minute change before team lists were lodged, he was pulled again, with Mavrik Geyer getting the nod instead.
Now where have we seen this kind of sudden omission by Ivan Cleary before? Let’s just say… Sunia Turuva, 2024, right before he was about to sign with the Wests Tigers. 👀
Now to the latest I’ve heard, and this comes from someone fairly well-connected:
👉 Hassett is currently unsigned for 2026. 👉 His management has reached out to three clubs to explore a fresh start. 👉 One of those clubs is the Wests Tigers and they’re interested.
🤞 Fingers crossed. We could definitely use another playable back-rower if we cop a few injuries next year. Hassett’s done a great job filling that utility forward role for Penrith NSW Cup when called upon, and that’s definitely something we’ve been lacking. Eyes peeled, hopefully some good news lands our way soon..
