Jarome Luai’s move to Parramatta has become even more extraordinary, with the Wests Tigers set to pay $500,000 of his salary while he plays for one of their biggest rivals in 2027.
The unusual arrangement is the result of the Tigers agreeing to release Luai a year early from his contract, allowing him to join the Eels for one season before linking up with the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
According to Code Sports, the Eels will pay $700,000 of Luai’s reported $1.2 million salary next season, while the Tigers will contribute the remaining $500,000 as part of the release agreement.
The deal officially ends one of the biggest contract sagas of the NRL season.
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After the Tigers recently confirmed Luai was free to leave at the end of 2026, Parramatta quickly emerged as the overwhelming favourite to secure the four-time premiership winner for the 2027 campaign. Interest also came from the Perth Bears, but Luai ultimately chose to remain in Sydney before beginning his long-term deal with the PNG Chiefs in 2028.
Parramatta General Manager of Football Mark O’Neill welcomed the signing in a club statement.
“Jarome is one of the most experienced and successful players of his generation, and we’re thrilled to welcome him to the Parramatta Eels next year.”
O’Neill said Luai’s professionalism, leadership and winning experience would be invaluable additions to Jason Ryles’ squad.
The financial arrangement has already divided opinion.
While some believe paying half a million dollars for a player to strengthen a rival is difficult to justify, the Tigers view the decision as a necessary step in accelerating their long-term rebuild.
The early release frees salary-cap space and allows the club to hand greater responsibility to emerging playmakers, including Latu Fainu and Javon Andrews, while avoiding carrying Luai’s full salary for another season.
For Parramatta, the move is viewed as a low-risk opportunity.
The Eels will secure one of the game’s elite five-eighths for a single season before Luai departs for Papua New Guinea, where he has already signed a marquee deal to become the expansion club’s foundation superstar from 2028.
Luai is expected to partner Mitchell Moses in one of the NRL’s most exciting halves combinations, giving Jason Ryles another genuine premiership-calibre playmaker as Parramatta continues its push back towards title contention.
Whether the Tigers’ decision proves wise will only become clear over time.
If Luai helps lead Parramatta deep into the finals while the Tigers continue to rebuild, questions will inevitably be asked about the cost of letting their marquee signing leave early.
For now, however, one thing is certain.
It isn’t often an NRL club pays $500,000 for a player to line up against them the following season.
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