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
Chiefy, I set that clock on you turning sad sack about Luai and I get to p.10 of the blog and you're already half way to sad sack about Luai! Is there a bigger sad sack on this site? I don't think so!
Sad and embarrassing.
Mental gymnastics indeed!
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Benji is fighting over Benji? Dogs fans....
He will be great for the club, him & Spencer are winners with a good work ethic & a lot of passion in their defence. With a healthy squad, new outside backs & a good forward leader & maybe Moses retiring from rep footy, maybe we could be very competitive in 2027.
Moses wint retire from rep footy. That 90k a year pays for the upgrades to his house renovation...
Agree If we can get Spencer even for a year that will give us time for our other forwards to develop and hopefully pick up some things from him like being an angry merkin.. It saves us buying an average player for 2-3 seasons to fill a gap...
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