OFFICIAL Jarome Luai - #295

[WesternSuburbsBoy]

Don’t know why this is turning into a HBG issue… Luai is just chasing the bag nothing to do with HBG. Richo said he was confident that Luai would activate his option not that he was going to just like he was confident that Stef & Galvin would stay.

 

[upthetigers]

With tax free $$ they can offer the same and he makes $500k a year more

Just read salaries are only tax free if the player resides in PNG

 

[Tom Shines]

Don’t know why this is turning into a HBG issue… Luai is just chasing the bag nothing to do with HBG. Richo said he was confident that Luai would activate his option not that he was going to just like he was confident that Stef & Galvin would stay.

It’s PTSD

 

[wstigers11]

It was Benji ! They all love him ..

You didn’t mention what will happen when Luai eventually leaves 2 year later anyway

Lmao Benji could only sign Bud Sullivan & Bateman when he started coaching. Luai gave us recruitment credibility.

 

[Tom Shines]

Lmao Benji could only sign Bud Sullivan & Bateman when he started coaching. Luai gave us recruitment credibility.

So what will happen when he leaves 2 years later anyway ?

 

[Lestronge]

They would have to live in a compound in Port Moresby. I don't know if they May boys would enjoy that, being boys from Mt Druitt they most likely wouldn't like the restrictive lifestyle, signing with the Warriors & living in NZ would be more comfortable.

I'm sure some players who sign for the Chiefs will get "buyer's remorse", others will use a "siege" or camp like mentality approach & commit for the big $$ they just can't possibly make here.

It’s for young families or single boys who like a fish and “on the water” but not surfing lifestyle . I can see a lot of guys from central - far North Queensland being real interested. From experience swimming in those waters is not for the faint of heart.
I can’t see the May brothers being interested right now . Maybe in a few years .

 

[TYGA]

Luai has been good for the Tigers and for Benj and im a fan of what he brings in and off the field. That said hes a better second fiddle and probably worth 900k. If he leaves and by 2028 the plan is to play Latu Fainu it would work out well. 5 year deal at 1.5m tax free you cant say no if the family agrees.

 

[Lestronge]

Agree. Also we have Latu and Sma Fainu plus both Mays coming off end of 2027. If Laui leaves we have money to retain them. If he stays we won't especially given Mays and Sam came to us on lower money for various reasons so all 3 will need upgrades plus Turuva too.

I like everything Jarome brings but can also see the positives for us especially given it would give us 18 months to plan ahead

Him leaving won’t be a mass exodus I don’t think. It would be viewed as an older player getting his bag . Not some damning indictment of the tigers

 

[Vicious]

If Luai ends up staying with us it probably means we would lose Latu Fainu due to lack of opportunity, so it probably works in our favour if he does chase the money being offered by PNG.

 

[Chunk]

Luai has done wonders for the culture of the club and has no doubt helped turn the club around.

However, we should have our 'culture' issues sorted by 2028 and if we don't then we are in trouble.

So if his on field performances over the past 18 months were to continue, this could be a blessing in disguise.

1.2M is a lot of money.

 

[wstigers11]

So what will happen when he leaves 2 years later anyway ?

What do you mean? My point with all of this is that we have a huge issue with retention. We can’t retain players to save ourselves and it’s been an issue for years. It’s not about Luai individually. We lost two juniors last year. Our fullback is not secured. Our younger players are free agents soon. How do we convince them to stay if our captain wants to leave? Newcastle have been crap but Ponga still chose to stay. Titans re-sign their players. For some reason here they can’t wait to get out.

 

[Tom Shines]

If Luai ends up staying with us it probably means we would lose Latu Fainu due to lack of opportunity, so it probably works in our favour if he does chase the money being offered by PNG.

You haven’t read the last 3 pages …apparently if he leaves ,..no one is going to extend here…

 

[Lestronge]

if luai doesnt sign, Terrell May wouldn't have
not sure about turuva given Api connection, you would think if Luai goes to png turuva would be a big chance to go over as centre, winger, fullback

Says who ? Luai was the initiation of the culture , but it doesn’t mean that the culture he helped establish is a house of cards .
This defeatist stuff drives me crazy . He will be 31 in 2028 . IMO those last 2 years of his contract were always feared of being an anchor around the clubs neck .
The reason he’s being poached as the first player is also the reason his legacy here will endure well after he’s gone .

 

[Muffstar]

That’s the thing, they haven’t extended. Now the club will be backed into a corner. The lack of proactiveness instead of reaction with our squad has been an issue for years.

I must say I haven't heard much from Sean ? since he assumed the interim role. He started off with a lot of bluster but has gone quite. Not convinced as yet but happy to give it a little more time. He certainly isn't a Richo

 

[Spacecub]

Him leaving won’t be a mass exodus I don’t think. It would be viewed as an older player getting his bag . Not some damning indictment of the tigers

I thought we were his bag

 

[wstigers11]

I must say I haven't heard much from Sean ? since he assumed the interim role. He started off with a lot of bluster but has gone quite. Not convinced as yet but happy to give it a little more time. He certainly isn't a Richo

Yep I guess he was letting performances do the talking but the lack of extensions was a concern

 

[Vicious]

You haven’t read the last 3 pages …apparently if he leaves ,..no one is going to extend here…

Ok, let’s hope we can still field a team.

 

[wstigers11]

Ok, let’s hope we can still field a team.

You wanted to hold off re-signing Bula. You think this gives him the confidence to stay now?

 

[Tom Shines]

What do you mean? My point with all of this is that we have a huge issue with retention. We can’t retain players to save ourselves and it’s been an issue for years. It’s not about Luai individually. We lost two juniors last year. Our fullback is not secured. Our younger players are free agents soon. How do we convince them to stay if our captain wants to leave? Newcastle have been crap but Ponga still chose to stay. Titans re-sign their players. For some reason here they can’t wait to get out.

Like I said up thread … the team is winning now ( they didn’t in the era you are describing previously ) … From what we see on May’s podcast …they seem happy …

Players are gunna come and go whether Luai stays or not ..and in three years he is out of the club anyway …

If players don’t want to stay in a winning team .,then I don’t know what anyone can do about it ?

The two juniors reasons for leaving were well documented… The hooker would have stayed but the club preferred Api

 

[Tom Shines]

Ok, let’s hope we can still field a team.

Twal and AD will be busy