Jarome Luai has agreed to play next season at the Eels following his dramatic split from the Tigers.
It is understood Luai will have a one year stint at Parramatta before taking up his rich deal to join PNG in 2028.
Perth had expressed an interest in landing Luai but he was reluctant to move his family before relocating to PNG. The Bears had dangled the prospect of potentially more money for Luai but instead he will partner with Mitchell Moses in the halves as the Eels look to end their finals drought.
The Tigers will have to chip in about $500,000 of Luai’s contract for him to play at Parramatta.
It means Luai’s first game for the Eels could be in Las Vegas when his new club takes on the Titans to kick-start the NRL season.
Rugby Australia also intimated they would be open to securing Luai for one-year but that was always considered a long-shot.
The Eels had limited success with Jonah Pezet’s gap year before he joins the Broncos next season. However, Luai is a different proposition.
The four-time premiership winner has played three Origin games with Moses with two wins including the 2024 game three decider.
The 29-year-old will always arrive with a point to prove after an indifferent two year stint at the Tigers.
The Eels have two young halves in Lincoln Fletcher and Lorenzo Talataina with Luai’s short-term deal ensuring their paths are not blocked to becoming regular NRL players.
Volkman’s agent told rival clubs last week that he would not be at the Eels and was open to offers to remain in the NRL despite strong interest from the Super League.
Replies
Victory for MON 🤣
Bascially handed to him on a silver platter but yeah 🤣
People will bitch why dont we get signings. We get one and it's "Oh nobody wanted him that's why we got him". Happens all the time.
Yeah MON couldn't stuff this one up lol. I'd assume Moses and Paulo drove this one home.
Wouldn't matter if we got cleary they would still bitch amd moan.
I thought $700k would be about where this is at, well done to all involved at the club.
What an absolute shit show our front office is
Says the person who said we should have moved our captain and most expensive to another position at the expense of a 28 year old with injury concerns coming off a great half a season.
Damn straight willis, at least we'd be able to alternate between injuires and maybe get some value for money
Not to mention that we wont be getting the whole Luai, he'll just be biding his time and coasting
What if Metcalf gets hurt? Moses and him clash heads over who is in control? Moses kicks stones and wants to go elsewhere?
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