Jarome Luai will leave Wests Tigers at the end of the 2027 season, confirming he will join the PNG Chiefs.
Luai is contracted to the Chiefs for the 2028 and 2029 seasons and has an option to remain with the club in 2030.
The announcement comes a day after the Chiefs locked in South Sydney’s Alex Johnston as their first signing.
Luai spent last weekend in PNG and met with Prime Minister James Marape and senior club officials.
A four-time premiership winner with Penrith, Luai has helped the Tigers reach third spot on the ladder this season.
But the temptation to be the face of a new franchise and earn a tax-free deal, reportedly worth more than $1 million a season, with the Chiefs proved too good to turn down.
Jarome Luai (centre) is set to be the face of the Chiefs franchise. (PNG Chiefs)
Luai said financial incentives were not the reason behind the move to the Chiefs.
“That’s not what got the deal signed,” Luai told a media conference this morning.
“Being over there [Papua New Guinea], you sort of realise it’s bigger than a game over there.
“When the time comes, we’ll be able to change a lot of lives for the better.”
Luai is permitted to leave the Tigers because of the clauses he was given in his five-year deal.
The five-eighth is in the second season of that contract, which allowed the playmaker to activate an option to stay or leave after years three, four and five.
Luai said the Chiefs were the right fit for him to continue his career.
“It’s probably more a vision, something that I resonated with,” he said.
“Being Polynesian, there are a lot of similarities to Samoa and things like that.
“What that team is eventually going to do for those people is just grow a nation, so that is something that resonated with me.”
Jarome Luai addressed the media about his move to the Chiefs on Wednesday. (AAP: Dean Lewins)
Chiefs general manager of football Michael Chammas said Luai’s signing was a “defining moment for the club and the nation”.
“Jarome is a world-class player and a proven winner,” Chammas said in a statement.
“Securing his signature is a big step forward for our club and for rugby league in Papua New Guinea.
“We said we would attract the best players in the competition and we’ve done that. It is a proud moment for us.
“He embodies the style, passion, and competitiveness we want our team to represent.
“We’re thrilled to welcome Jarome and his family to the Chiefs family.”
Luai said he was still committed to helping the Tigers reach their potential before his departure from the club.
“I’ve still got a job here to do,” he said.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall said Luai had the club’s blessing.
“He’s still with us for the next 18 months and the role he plays in that journey continues,” Marshall said.
“We’re all looking forward to having him with us during that time.
“Jarome’s a quality human being who is widely respected across our club.
“I know how difficult this has been for him, but he’s put his family first and we respect his decision.”
Johnston will join the Chiefs on a one-year deal, understood to be worth a tax-free $325,000.
He passed Ken Irvine’s long-standing NRL try-scoring record earlier this season for the Rabbitohs.
AAP/ABC
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