OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[Tigerwould]

Looking off what's available;
How's this for a potential chiefs team?

1. Chevy Stewart
2. Brian To'o
3. Isaac Tago
4. Zac Laybutt
5. Alex Johnston
6. Jarome Luai
7. Jett Cleary
8. Jackson Ford
9. Mitchell Kenny
10. Junior Paulo
11. Liam Martin
12. Jermaine McCewan
13. Connor Watson

14. Trent Toelau
15. Luron Patea
16. Lazarus Vaalepu
17. Cooper Bai

Hopefully it doesn’t affect one team (like Penrith or the WTs) more than the rest of the comp. Like Manly poaching John Dorahy, Les Boyd, and Ray Brown from the Magpies back in the day.
One player I can’t see joining Luai in PNG is Galvin. Bulldogs are safe with him.

 

[Tito Santana]

I think all clubs should relocate to PNG so it is a level playing field.

Sorted.

Everyone can all live in a compound like COVID and get tax free pay.

Oh Tito - you’ve done it again!

 

[Tito Santana]

Hopefully it doesn’t affect one team (like Penrith or the WTs) more than the rest of the comp. Like Manly poaching John Dorahy, Les Boyd, and Ray Brown from the Magpies back in the day.
One player I can’t see joining Luai in PNG is Galvin. Bulldogs are safe with him.

I don’t think anyone wants him.

He is shit

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

It’s a ridiculous situation
The Australian government bankrolls PVLs dream and the PNG government subsidise it
What a mess, the playing field is leaning so heavy it could tip into the Torres Strait

they will be the most hated club in a few years all duentontax free dollars
700k player becomes 1.1 million dollar player

 

[Adam Doobie]

I agree with the sentiments of many on here that it does diminish the value of a lot of the “my team” rhetoric that Luai had been stating since he got here. It is a little disappointing that the playing group may not quite be as close as advertised.

However, from a purely team list perspective, I genuinely think this is the ideal situation. When we signed Luai we had to pay a premium to get him, 5 years at 1.2 million is well over his on field production. What we needed was a circuit breaker, a culture changer, something to get us moving in the right direction. In that regard he has been perfect and we only had to pay him the premium price for 3 years. His last two years were always going to be massive overpays in my opinion.

This could play out perfectly. It really is now up to HBG and Mielekamp to prove they are the leaders they demanded to be. I believe we have a great coach, a strong core and a huge amount of young talent. Need to lock them down and make sure they see the direction that Luai helped start.

I personally am optimistic this could turn out as a net positive.

Luai said himself "when things get hard, people expect you to change. I'm not that type of guy, I'm here for the long run and I'm here to turn this club around."

You could argue that he has already done his job changing the culture of the club. Time will tell, but if we make finals this year, and again next year, you could say job done.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Luai to have his team in 2028
Bulla
Brian T
Turuva
May snr
May jnr
Luai
Burton
Martin
Yoe
Leota
Kenny
Just to start off , it could happen and the Tigers really need to secure current players like the Mays , Sam F , Turuva , I just hope Benji is allowed to get this done and HBG stay away from it as we have been slow at securing May Snr and Bulla

if cheifs sign Tyrone may then i would be really.concerned re terrell may and taylan May.

 

[Demps]

if cheifs sign Tyrone may then i would be really.concerned re terrell may and taylan May.

Most don't think hes NRL standard...
Not sure how much impact he'd have in 2028 either.

I'd sign him for cup though.

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Luai said himself "when things get hard, people expect you to change. I'm not that type of guy, I'm here for the long run and I'm here to turn this club around."

You could argue that he has already done his job changing the culture of the club. Time will tell, but if we make finals this year, and again next year, you could say job done.

He still has 26 and 27 to win a comp with us

 

[Mccarry]

For all those worried about our tax money funding this…

A mate of mine returned from a PNG CEO gig last year. A couple of insider stories from him and you would understand that China has had a blank cheque book ready for PNG projects for 10 years.

I now don’t underestimate how close China got with PNG govt. Who knows if PNG would have allowed a Chinese military base but to me the risk and consequences of that out weigh this 10 year investment.

PNG government now accountable to their people like never before. Let China in and riots on the street when NRL pulls out.

It’s good business by our diplomats

 

[Adam Doobie]

For all those worried about our tax money funding this…

A mate of mine returned from a PNG CEO gig last year. A couple of insider stories from him and you would understand that China has had a blank cheque book ready for PNG projects for 10 years.

I now don’t underestimate how close China got with PNG govt. Who knows if PNG would have allowed a Chinese military base but to me the risk and consequences of that out weigh this 10 year investment.

PNG government now accountable to their people like never before. Let China in and riots on the street when NRL pulls out.

It’s good business by our diplomats

Too right. The people there live and breathe rugby league. They would probably attempt to topple the government if their NRL team was taken from them.

 

[Wiz]

Luai's whole contract looks like it was structured with this move in mind. I think many called it out back then that it was structured to cover the options of Perth and PNG.

And the salary cap massively increasing due to the new TV rights deal.

 

[liltiger]

Vlandys:
"everyone is treated equally"

He must really think fans are idiots

The club i feel the most sorry for are Perth. Coming in at the same time as PNG but PNG have virtually an unlimited salary cap and the Bears are directly competing with them trying to recruit players. Its like a one legged man in a bum kicking contest.

 

[Mccarry]

Too right. The people there live and breathe rugby league. They would probably attempt to topple the government if their NRL team was taken from them.

I honestly think they would. I went to a QLD cup final in Port Moresby and I have never seen a more passionate bunch of fans who genuinely seem a beer away from a riot all day.

 

[Lestronge]

if png was not tax free dollars they would not have gone close to getting luai, neither would have any other nrl team at 1.2 million

Most teams don’t think he’s worth that … I mean….. do we ? Really ? It’s a fair question imo. What does 2028 Jahrome Luai really look like ?
Remember the last 2 years of the Reynolds deal ?

 

[crazycat]

I wonder if the Chiefs will go to all the expense they outlayed on Luai to all the other potential recruits theyre looking to sign?

Doubt theyll want any Dragons players, Wahs have the bye next week....will we see any of their off contract players being wooed with private jets etc

You know what's weird.

I don't think they care. Which sounds weird, but I think they are looking to recruit on Attitude.

I think one of the smartest recruitment decisions the Sharks did was go for Dale Finucane over TPJ, even though TPJ was the better player (on paper). Why? Leadership and support for a rookie coach.

Luai clearly has helped our players train and train hard.
It's strange him activating his clause like this. I mean he would be guaranteed 1.2m here.

... I would be sad, just unsure how much we need Luai - aka a 5/8 who really isn't a halfback. That said, it's Benji telling Luai "you want to be Batman" and he is not "Batman"

 

[SeanT]

It’s a ridiculous situation
The Australian government bankrolls PVLs dream and the PNG government subsidise it
What a mess, the playing field is leaning so heavy it could tip into the Torres Strait

That's what I was saying. Perth and the Dolphins got nothing but this team does. If they win a comp then it cannot be counted.

 

[TigerBurnsy]

Are they gunna sign anyone else or just our boys ?

Plenty of Penrith boys off contract too

Same with broncos roosters and every other club, most decent managers would have their client off contract for one of the expansion franchises

 

[Jedi_Tiger]

Most teams don’t think he’s worth that … I mean….. do we ? Really ? It’s a fair question imo. What does 2028 Jahrome Luai really look like ?
Remember the last 2 years of the Reynolds deal ?

in hindsight it is a good move
problem is he gets in the ears of other players like turuva and says you are on 500k
png offer 800k tax free plus third parties, same with May brothers.
The tax free dollars and friends with luai may entice some players

 

[supercoach]

I reckon Bula to the PNG.

There has been a whisper about it even before the Luai news broke. I would say it’s on the cards. Like Luai it would not be the end of the earth, 2028 gives a few kids plenty of development time

 

[Lestronge]

in hindsight it is a good move
problem is he gets in the ears of other players like turuva and says you are on 500k
png offer 800k tax free plus third parties, same with May brothers.
The tax free dollars and friends with luai may entice some players

If the May boys go I will be surprised . I can’t see them leaving west Sydney . The Fainus I’m very very confidant we will be ok . Turuva … I dunno . But we have some guns coming through on the wings . Check out Lanyon playing up a year in sg ball this year . Apart of the undefeated u18s wests tigers team . He’s got some real talent .