Parramatta coach Jason Ryles says Jarome Luai is an “elite talent” – something the club is always looking for – but he hasn’t given too much thought to the prospect of signing the five-eighth who has been strongly linked with a move to the Eels next year.
Luai’s status for 2027 has suddenly become the biggest talking point in rugby league now that the State of Origin series is over after it was revealed that the Wests Tigers had given their co-captain permission to leave at the end of the season.
The four-time premiership winner has already signed a deal with the PNG Chiefs when they enter the competition in 2028, with Luai under contract at the Tigers on a deal worth a reported $1.2m for next year.
But he’ll need to find a new home for one season, with a move to Perth unlikely given it would mean having to take his family across the country and then to PNG in the space of 12 months.
The Eels are the frontrunners to sign him to partner Mitchell Moses in the halves, but Ryles was fairly tight-lipped when asked about it on Friday.
“There’s a little bit about Jarome at the moment,” he said.
“He’s an elite talent, and we’re always looking at elite talent to bring to our club, but that’s all really fresh at the moment.
“I honestly don’t know too much about it. It’s something that’s worth a conversation, and we’ll just see where it goes, if it goes anywhere.”
Short-term contracts are nothing new to the Eels who signed Jonah Pezet from Melbourne for one year before his move to the Broncos in 2027.
That hasn’t worked out with Pezet battling form and fitness issues, with the playmaker making his return to first grade last week after nearly three months out of the team.
The key difference here is that Luai is a specialist five-eighth unlike Pezet, who is more of a traditional halfback, with Luai also having a great partnership with Moses after their time together with the Blues.
“I’ve not thought about it, so I’ve not even got to that point,” Ryles replied when asked about the similarities to Pezet’s deal if Luai joins the club.
“I’ve been really focused on our game tomorrow against the Roosters. We’ve just finished our final prep, so I might start to think about it now.
“He (Luai) is an elite talent. He’s a four-time premiership player and I think it speaks for itself. He’s a quality player and his standing in the game is where it is because of his performances on the field.”
Meanwhile, Moses will miss Saturday’s clash against the Roosters.
The NSW five-eighth suffered an early knock on Wednesday night and has been put on ice, with the Eels star to return after next week’s bye when he takes on Blues teammate Nathan Cleary in a western Sydney grudge match on July 23.
“Mitchell got a cork early in the game which he finished the game with, but he’s pulled up pretty sore, so he’ll miss out this week and will be good to go after the bye,” Ryles said.
“Jonah will play. He’s prepared there all week and played last week, so we’re really confident he’ll do a really good job for us.”
Originally published as ‘I might start to think about it now’: Jason Ryles responds to massive Jarome Luai rumour as Eels make huge call on Mitch Moses