That would be the Basketcase move if it come to the crunch.if we happen to get Luai and we have sezer and fainu and Galvin would the club consider (depending on Amone situation) looking at releasing Sullivan back to Dragons.
if we happen to get Luai and we have sezer and fainu and Galvin would the club consider (depending on Amone situation) looking at releasing Sullivan back to Dragons.
I don't think any party would be happy with that.
It shouldn't be an issue in 2024. Fainu is probably not 100% FG ready yet, and Galvin is even further off. Sezer is only here for a year. Let the three of them (Sezer/Sullivan/Fainu) play out the year and make some calls at this time next year, based on performance and development over the year.
Galvin is still eligible for SG Ball in 2024, and will probably play more Flegg than NSW Cup this year, so no need to rush him. He looks 5-10kg underweight for proper men's football at this stage.
Fainu looks a bit more developed physically and has obviously played against men a bit more. But remember he's still Ball eligible as well.
if we happen to get Luai and we have sezer and fainu and Galvin would the club consider (depending on Amone situation) looking at releasing Sullivan back to Dragons.
Not sure why we'd want to do that? If the past has taught us anything it's that you can never have enough halves. We also don't really have any cap issues. He's a player that has a heap of ability, I think we just sit back and see what he's got.
I am concerned with Fainu and Galvin in particular given his manager if we are not playing them they will agitate for a release at some point. Galvin can say he is happy to play with mates etc but if his manager gets in his ear saying I can get you first grade time and good salary, we have seen what happens.
if Sullivan doesn't get much game time you potentially have 500k sitting in reserve grade in 2025
Understand what you're saying mate, but it's a different landscape at the club now. I wonder what Richo's relationship is like with Galvin's management?
Luai skipped Panthers training again.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has answered with an emphatic “no” when asked if the club will allow Jarome Luai to head to the Tigers a year early amid speculation the playmaker is growing discontent with his current club.
Luai has been granted leave from Panthers preseason training this week in the wake of reports that he has agreed to a five-year, $6million deal with the Tigers from the 2025 season.
Fox Sports’ Cody Kaye spoke to Fletcher on Tuesday morning, with the Panthers boss laughing off suggestions that Luai will be anywhere but Penrith in 2024.
“Fletcher said ‘there’s absolutely no way we are letting Jarome Luai off his contract in 2024 to play for a rival club’ and further to that, he says Jarome wants to be at the Panthers for the final year of his contract,” Kaye told Fox Sports News.
“However, we all know rugby league is a funny business and it wouldn’t be the first time that clubs have denied the release of a player only for that player to be released.
“At this stage, as far as the Panthers are concerned, Luai isn’t going anywhere.”
Kaye spoke to new Tigers CEO Shane Richardson, asking the decorated rugby league administrator if the club is keen to have Luai from 2024.
“You have to imagine that given this massive offer, the Wests Tigers are moving heaven and earth to try and get him (Luai) for the start of Round 1 next year,” Kaye said.
“I asked him (Richardson) point blank if you’d like to get Jarome for the start of the 2024 season and he answered ‘no comment’. Read into that what you will.. It’s not a denial, but it leaves the open question.
“The only way they can do that is if the Panthers decide to let him leave a year early.”
Luai hasn’t been seen at Panthers preseason training since explaining teammates of his plan to leave the club at the end of 2024 to sign with the Tigers.
The Daily Telegraph reported that the Panthers had reluctantly granted Luai leave.
However in a tweet, SMH journalist Michael Chammas said Luai had not answered the club and instead got a someone else to tell them he “wasn’t coming to work because he was angry with them”.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
if we happen to get Luai and we have sezer and fainu and Galvin would the club consider (depending on Amone situation) looking at releasing Sullivan back to Dragons.
Not sure why we'd want to do that? If the past has taught us anything it's that you can never have enough halves. We also don't really have any cap issues. He's a player that has a heap of ability, I think we just sit back and see what he's got.
I am concerned with Fainu and Galvin in particular given his manager if we are not playing them they will agitate for a release at some point. Galvin can say he is happy to play with mates etc but if his manager gets in his ear saying I can get you first grade time and good salary, we have seen what happens.
if Sullivan doesn't get much game time you potentially have 500k sitting in reserve grade in 2025
Understand what you're saying mate, but it's a different landscape at the club now. I wonder what Richo's relationship is like with Galvin's management?
still Isaac Moses which is the worry
AFB 1 million a year at the Sharks
@tigertownsfs what exactly is the Tigers defensive system?? Last 3 years there’s been a different defensive coach. So I iterate what system?
grab and hope….
I believe John Morris had taken over the defensive coaching role. So that makes 4. But I have to say I am happy for Morris to do this. The Sharks defence was pretty good while Morris was coach.@tigertownsfs what exactly is the Tigers defensive system?? Last 3 years there’s been a different defensive coach. So I iterate what system?
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
PARRAMATTA EELS star Waqa Blake and Wests Tigers winger David Nofoaluma will not be making the move to Super League after being linked in recent weeks.
Blake, 29, was released by Parramatta at the end of October following the culmination of his contract with the Eels whilst Nofoaluma’s relationship with the Tigers has become estranged in recent weeks after he refused to train.
Fijian international Blake has played over 150 games in the NRL for the Penrith Panthers and Parramatta, but his preference is to stay in Australia’s most prized competition, League Express understands.
Meanwhile, Nofoaluma claimed that he has been ‘unfair treatment’ under new head coach Benji Marshall, but the club responded stating that there was “miscommunication about what was expected” of the winger.
However, the 30-year-old felt so strongly that he brought up the matter with the club’s welfare department, with reports also coming out that the Rugby League Players Association have been contacted.
Nofoaluma has repeatedly been shopped to NRL rivals in recent years and enjoyed a six-game stint with Melbourne Storm in 2022 before making his way back into the Tigers’ team.
That being said, the agent of both Blake and Nofoaluma has distanced both players from Super League speculation, stating to League Express that the pair will not become Super League players “at the moment”.
That being said, if no NRL side is forthcoming with an offer for either player then that situation could change.
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
Penrith will have to wait until the new year to get departing superstar Jarome Luai back to training, but the Wests Tigers could get clarity on their marquee signing-in-waiting by the end of the week.
Luai wasn’t spotted at the Panthers Rugby League Academy for a third straight day, having requested time off as he struggles with the biggest decision of his NRL career.
The Panthers wrapped up pre-season preparations for the year on Wednesday, training off site before returning to Panthers headquarters on the team bus.
Captain and halfback Nathan Cleary reported for training, after he was photographed picking up Matildas star Mary Fowler from Sydney Airport following her arrival home from the UK the night before, in further confirmation of the pair’s budding romance.
As they piled off the bus, Luai, affectionately known as the team’s chief energy officer, was noticeably missing.
In Luai’s absence, it was left to 2023 NRL rookie of the year Sunia Turuva to take charge of the club’s giant boombox.
The players looked relaxed as they tried to stay out of the driving rain as they lined up for lunch without Luai, something they’ll have to get used to.
Penrith players, including Nathan Cleary, at Panthers Rugby League Academy. Picture: Supplied.
Penrith players, including Nathan Cleary, at Panthers Rugby League Academy. Picture: Supplied.
Penrith players return to home base after training off site. Picture: Supplied.
Penrith players return to home base after training off site. Picture: Supplied.
It’s believed Luai is just days away from signing a five-year, $6 million deal to join the Wests Tigers from 2025, after he revealed to teammates on Saturday the upcoming season would be his last at the club.
Despite reluctantly granting Luai leave from training this week to deal with the enormity of leaving Penrith, Panthers officials have ruled out releasing the popular No.6 from the final year of his deal.
“Jarome is committed to the club for 2024 and we look forward to having him here for next season,” Panthers Group chief executive Brian Fletcher said on Tuesday.
Regardless, it’s understood the Tigers don’t currently have the available salary cap space to accommodate Luai for next season.
Once the 26-year-old indicates he is ready to accept the Tigers’ offer, the deal must be lodged with the NRL.
That will trigger the new 10-day cooling-off period where, under the new contracting guidelines, the Panthers have that time to convince him to change his mind. However, the Panthers have already indicated they are in no position to match the Tigers’ bid, with their offer believed to be in excess of $2.4 million over three years.
Jarome Luai won’t be back at Penrith until the new year.
Jarome Luai won’t be back at Penrith until the new year.
Even if Penrith don’t convince him to stay, Luai can still reject the Tigers’ offer and go back on the open market, where Canterbury are still keen on securing his services.
The $6 million contract will be life changing for Luai, who spent the early part of his career living with his parents and helping pay off the mortgage of their Mt Druitt home.
Just this year, Luai and his partner Bailey Paris Toleafoa purchased a $1.55 million family home for their three kids in the heart of Penrith, a short drive from BlueBet Stadium.
More Coverage
Walking contradiction: Can polarising Panther handle Tigers pressure?
Walking contradiction: Can polarising Panther handle Tigers pressure?
No show: Panthers make call on early Luai release
No show: Panthers make call on early Luai release
It comes as Melbourne centre Justin Olam and his representatives held further talks with the Storm about a potential move to the Wests Tigers.
It’s understood the clubs are edging towards a deal that could result in an immediate swap, with forward Shawn Blore heading in the opposite direction.
It’s understood Tigers coach Benji Marshall has taken a personal interest in the Olam deal, whose talks revived this week after negotiations had stalled as the Tigers focused on their pursuit of Luai.
Daily Tele
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
anyone heard any rumours of klemmer being offloaded to accommodate more room in the cap for Luai for 2024 ? Heard from someone connected to dragons that they were making enquiries not sure how legit tbh
