Bombshell $1.2m call to turn Luai windfall into ‘romantic’ homecoming… and ‘unlock’ Tigers

The Wests Tigers sent shockwaves through the rugby league world earlier this week when they dropped a mid-season bombshell.

On Thursday afternoon, reports emerged from CODE Sports that the club had granted five-eighth and co-captain Jarome Luai permission to depart the as early as the end of this season.

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“We’re all fine. Obviously its not ideal before a game but we’re all locked in and we won’t use that as an excuse tonight,” Adam Doueihi said on Fox League.

Luai’s pending departure (who has been heavily linked to the Eels) is expected to free up around $1.2 million in salary cap space, handing the Tigers significant flexibility as they reshape their roster under coach Benji Marshall.

While the club are understood to be prioritising contract upgrades and long-term extensions for rising stars Latu and Samuela Fainu with the extra salary cap space, Fox League analyst Michael Ennis believes there could be an even bigger play behind the decision.

“The talk is Latu Fainu. They want to extend him. We haven’t seen the best of Latu yet, there has been so much optimism around him,” Ennis said on Friday Night Football’s pre-match show.

“He was a schoolboys star (but) just hasn’t been able to do that (at the Tigers yet). His body has let him down.

“I don’t think they make this decision unless there’s someone sitting in the background that they’re looking to spend a fair chunk of this $1.2 million on to come in and do that.”

Although Fainu is set to be handed the keys to the long-term five-eighth role, Ennis believes that the club should have an even bigger target in mind and floated a blockbuster alternative.

This is where he suggested that the Tigers should target Parramatta Eels captain and NSW Blues star playmaker Mitchell Moses.

“Mitch Moses. I know, I’m throwing it out there,” the former NRL hooker said.

“If you look at Parramatta at the moment, Mitch is 31 years of age. The romanticism about him coming back to where it all started.

“$1.2 million for me, that’s in the ballpark of Mitch Moses and if you look at where Parramatta are at Mitch might look at that roster at the moment and go if I can play with Api Koroisau … Jahream Bula and … Adam Doueihi.

“There are some really good pieces to a puzzle at the Wests Tigers that just need someone to be able to unlock that and you see how Moses steps up in the big game.

“You saw that the other night. I know I’m throwing it out there.”

Although he is contracted to Parramatta until the end of 2029 and does not have any early release clauses in his deal, stranger things have happened in the world of rugby league

One of the elite halfback of the NRL, the 31-year-old is approaching the latter stages of his playing career and could potentially consider joining another team which may provide him with a stronger chance of winning a premiership.

“Parramatta would love to have that halves pairing of Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai,” Ennis continued.

“But looking at it today thinking Mitch loves winning, wants to win and to be fair I can’t see it (happening at the Eels).”

Speaking on NRL 360 on Thursday, foxsports.com.au’s columnist Paul Crawley labelled Luai’s impending departure a “concession” by the Tigers.

This saw him declare that their $1.2 million investment in the star five-eight had failed to deliver the expected results.

“I’ll put it to you this way: if Nathan Cleary is coming off-contract right at the end of next year and he signed somewhere else do Penrith put him in NSW Cup or try flog him off somewhere else so they can bring a young kid through?” Crawley said.

“That club has decided Jarome has not been a success.

“For them to concede coming into Round 19 that they’ve basically given up on their captain, I just can’t see how you say that’s a success for the Jarome Luai experiment.

“They were selling this as the players wanted to be on board with Benji and then Jarome Luai leaves.”

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