Clauses for chaos: Tigers civil war brings Luai question back to surface

Whispers had been building in recent weeks that Jarome Luai was finally ready to scratch the controversial escape clauses from his five-year deal with the Wests Tigers, to guarantee he’d stay in orange and black until the end of 2029.

With full-blown civil war exploding at the NRL club this week, however, and young guns now reconsidering extensions, how can Luai realistically pledge himself to the cause, committed or not?

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We would start this whole article with the very clear aside that we haven’t heard anything from anywhere near Luai that he’s seriously thinking of leaving as quickly as possible, but we must say he must be considering it now.

Look at all the pieces: Barry O’Farrell has now been axed as Wests Tigers chair, and four other directors have been similarly ousted. The organisation’s CEO, Shane Richardson, is now strongly considering walking out the door over the whole affair, and the ownership group behind it all, Holman Barnes, basically staged the bloody clearout over a jersey colour.

This Sporting Base writer hates to lean on the tried and true, but talk about a basket case — and it’s exactly why there’s every likelihood Luai alerts the club that he’ll be keeping the clauses intact for the time being, heading into the 2026 season.

(Those clauses, for the record, give him staggered chances to end his Wests contract early.)

Activating the clause would make him a free agent for 2027 and instantly set him up as a red-hot free agent. Clubs like the Perth Bears and St George Illawarra Dragons would pay huge money to bring him in as a number seven.

The Richardson stuff is the most vital to watch for every Tigers fan hoping Luai weathers the storm now. Richardson was a near one-man band when it came to bringing Luai to Leichardt; should he decide the writing’s on the wall or even just that he doesn’t want to work under the Holman Barnes Group shadow anymore, the no.7 may eventually decide the same.

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Even more worrying for Tigers fans, Luai has always been a very vocal advocate for trust and loyalty, and he can’t be seeing much of that from the Wests ownership group right now. When the bigwigs at the top are trying to kill part of the club identity to resurrect an old brand, it doesn’t quite inspire the “loyalty” he may be looking for long-term.

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And just as concerning, former Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis said on SEN radio on Tuesday that he is already hearing whispers that the ever-expanding “situation” would impact key player contract negotiations.

“It was admitted to me directly by a fella, who is now a director of the Wests Magpies, that the ultimate aim is to return the Magpies to the NRL,” Hagipantelis also said during the SEN show. “The licence is in Wests Tigers’ name, so they would have to move on NRL headquarters to bring back the Magpies… it wouldn’t be easy to do. It’s maybe a 50/50 proposition.”

Keep your eyes on it all, Tigers fans — though we’re sure you already are. Much to come yet.