Jarome Luai

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Because he's advised them that he will be
At WT (has intention to sign elsewhere),
That's when the 10 days start technically.
They will probably wave their rights once
It's signed today/next few days under the
new rules. Canterbury can't come in now,
He has indicated that he will accept our
offer. Bulldogs don't have a say right now
Unless he rejects our offer. Hope that helps
Clear as mud!
So bullfrog Gus can’t say of the record ‘Luai knock back the tigers offer and we will give u 1.3 million’?
 
Well, yes, respect for making the most of their junior base. But also Panthers sit on the largest junior League nursery in the entire world and that's by demographics not by some magical Panthers design.

You also have to give respect to Roosters for always assembling competitive sides despite having a very small junior base.
Yes I nod the head to the ‘great brown paper bag’
 
Does anyone know if we have now registered this Laui contract with NRL yet to start the 10 days? Few comments saying it not done yet
 
I know it's crazy, see what they've done lol.
I think we're in ageeance here. He will have
to reject our offer, in which case he would
be a free agent & if the Bulldogs offer him
one after that, he gets another 10 days to
consider or reject that offer. Mind blowing
And he'll have 50 offers and make his decision in 2027.
 
I think a lot of us are just scared by the past signings falling through. I am not bothered if its 25 or 24 but until it is announced I am very suss on Gus and the Dogs. They have burnt us quite a bit lately and just want this over ASAP.
Right but there is absolutely nothing you can do about it. So sweat it out or don't sweat at all, doesn't affect the outcome one bit.
 
Want to make your blood boil, go read the kennel. Deadset dribblers. Think they are more of a destination than the Tigers these days.

Had the worst f/a last year and they're still not recognising how much of a loser club they have become.

I can see the light at the end of our tunnel. I can't see it for the dogs.
 
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Kristian Woolf has declared Wests Tigers teenage prodigy Latu Fainu ready to play NRL next season and revealed why he shapes as Jarome Luai’s ideal long-term halves partner.

Before he had even made his NRL debut, Woolf blooded Fainu in the Test arena in last month’s series against England and gave a stunning endorsement from the Dolphins’ coach-in-waiting that should have long suffering Tigers faithful counting down the days to the 2024 season kick-off.

While cautious not to heap too much pressure on the tremendously talented 18-year-old, Woolf said of Fainu: “If he can step into an international game and hold his own then he can step into an NRL game and hold his own.”

Woolf also nominated five-eighth as Fainu’s best position, which would fit perfectly alongside Luai, who is expected to take on the chief playmaking responsibilities when he arrives at the Tigers in 2025.

“I think he (Fainu) is a six,” Woolf said.

“Just his skillset. He has got a good kicking game. He has a good passing game. He is confident. He reads the game well. I think he is going to fit in well as a six.”

With the three-time Panthers premiership winner Luai expected to accept a lucrative five-year, $6 million deal to join the Tigers, it sets up an intriguing battle to see which way Benji Marshall goes when choosing who plays five-eighth next season.

Veteran halfback Aidan Sezer was brought back from England on a one-year deal to add experience following Luke Brooks’ Manly exit.

But that’s likely to leave Fainu challenging fellow recruit and former Dragon Jayden Sullivan and gun junior Lachlan Galvin for the No.6 spot.

Galvin was the Australian Schoolboys five-eighth and captain this year, although his long-term future could be in the back row.

Wests Tigers’ halves conundrum

Jarome Luai (2029)*

Latu Fainu, Jayden Sullivan (2027)

Lachlan Galvin (2026)

Adam Doueihi (2024), Aidan Sezer (has a mutual option for 2025)

*Expected to join the club in 2025

The other option is Adam Doueihi, depending on when the off-contract star is fit to return from his latest ACL knee injury.

While there’s been plenty of debate about whether Marshall would be taking too big a risk blooding either Fainu or Galvin at such a young age, Woolf gave Fainu a glowing recommendation.

“I do think he is ready for NRL from everything I saw over there,” Woolf said.

“I certainly don’t want to be putting pressure on the kid.

“He is young. He has got a lot to learn. He has got a lot of hard work ahead of him.

“But he is physically equipped, and he showed that in everything he did overseas, both in training and certainly when he played.

“I probably came away from that series wishing I had played him a little bit more, to be honest, because I thought in the last game he made a real impact.

“We were playing him out of position at hooker where he hasn’t played before and he was physical, he showed he wanted to compete, he showed he had real footy smarts.

“And whenever we did opposed-type work at training he really challenged our defence. So he has a lot of potential, even though he has still got a lot to learn.”

Woolf also spoke about how well Fainu fitted in among the playing group.

“The environment there can be one that those young guys come into and be fairly comfortable fairly quick,” Woolf said.

“You certainly have a group of older blokes who look after the young blokes and make sure that is the case.

“He is very close with a number of guys there, particularly Addin Fonua-Blake, who is our captain.

“So (Addin) took him under his wing a fair bit.”

Woolf also said there are similarities to Fainu and Dolphins young gun Isaiya Katoa, who exploded onto in 2023.

“I see him a little bit similar I suppose as to where Isaiya was 12 months ago,” Woolf added.

“We sort of brought him into camp thinking it was more than likely going to be a good experience for him footy-wise and for us to get to know a little bit about him. And for him to know a bit about our environment more going forward.

“But when he got into camp he showed us both with the way he carried himself around camp and his maturity but also what he did on the field that he was ready to play and earnt that opportunity to get a run.

“Like all young guys he has a lot to learn. He is going to get better defensively. He is going to get better physically and fitness-wise. He is going to have to do the consistency of it which is the toughest thing.

“And the Tigers will work that out as to how much he plays.

“But he has certainly got the potential to say that if he can step into an international game and hold his own that he can step into an NRL game and hold his own.”
 
It's just a BS opinion-piece.

I don't think Tigers have any intention at all of using Galvin as a bargaining chip. If we've already agreed to terms with Luai and he's kicking up a fuss at Panthers, that's for the Panthers to figure out.

Tigers have the much stronger hand at this time - we can afford to wait for Luai. That is where Mole is totally wrong, because Tigers are actually not that desperate in 2024. It's a rookie coach, new Board, new CEO, new roster - there's a lot of leeway to be given. Anything better than last is a strong improvement and with Luai incoming 2025 the fans know there is more optimism to come.

Considering the drama Tigers have had in the past with similar contracts - Taupau, Aloiai, Blake Austin etc. the incumbent side is often better served cutting their losses and granting a release. The main difference here is that Penrith are a premiership-winning side, i.e. it's proven that Luai is a component of their dominance, and it's pretty far into the offseason to be trying to figure out how to spend Luai's salary. They've also reportedly paid Luai a significant salary already this new season and might want to be compensated.
agree with all that PLUS we now have Richo in the seat and not flakey JP - he won't be pushed around or make a silly decision.
 
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