Jarome Luai’s eye-watering third party deals with the PNG Chiefs may have “played a part” in the Tigers’ decision to let him go at the end of this season
It was confirmed this week that Luai will depart the Tigers and join Parramatta on a one-year bridging deal in 2027 before heading to Port Moresby from 2028 onwards.
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Luai has reportedly agreed to $3 million worth of tax free third party deals through the Chiefs and those commitments are said to start next season, a year before he joins the club from 2028.
“(Journalist Peter Badel) has done a ringaround today and found out that Jarome basically stands to earn about $3 million over the next four years in third party deals in Papua New Guinea,” Code Sports’ Brent Read explained on NRL360.
“He’s got to service those deals. You have to earn that money so it’ll mean that next year when he’s at the Eels, he’ll have to go to PNG and carry out some commitments even though he’s playing at Parramatta.”
The exorbitant figure hasn’t been fully green lit yet according to Read, with at least a couple of Luai’s third party deals yet to be ticked off.
If the report is correct though, NRL360 host and player agent Braith Anasta says it’s an astronomical figure that gives the Chiefs an “unbelievable advantage” in the free agency market.
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“That’s huge. Being now an agent to some players, that is big money. Tax free money. You will not get that $3 million anywhere else. I’m talking Nathan Cleary, Reece Walsh,” Anasta said.
“That’s an unbelievable advantage for PNG and shows us what they can offer up there in terms of money, and tax free dollars and third party deals. That’s pretty big.”
The terms of Luai’s third party deals will require the star playmaker to head up to Papua New Guinea during the 2027 season.
As NRL legend Gorden Tallis noted, the trip to Port Moresby from Sydney isn’t a quick trip.
“So the Eels have agreed to it?” Tallis asked.
“Because I’ve been to PNG a couple of times. It’s a three-day turnaround. You fly up, spend a day there then fly back. Are the Eels prepared to let him go for three days during the season?”
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Those comments led to Anasta wondering whether the Tigers had issues with the future commitments.
“That’s a great point. Could that have had a huge influence on why he left the Tigers? Because they weren’t happy with that? I imagine it’s a big reason,” Anasta said.
“It’s highly unusual. It just doesn’t happen.
“It has played a part,” Read revealed.
While the Tigers may not have been happy with that set up, Luai’s team for next season, Parramatta, were made aware.
“The Eels can’t complain,” journalist Michael Carayannis said.
“I can understand the Tigers having that angst whereas the Eels knew what they were inheriting. It was upfront, they know what is going to happen so they can’t have an issue with it.”