Tigers half Jarome Luai has been spotted in Papua New Guinea as the Chiefs embark on a bid to lure him as the club’s marquee signing.
Luai has a yearly option in his contract at the Tigers despite being signed until the end of 2029 on a $1.2 million-a-season deal.
Nine’s Danny Weidler reported that Luai toured around Port Moresby with Chiefs CEO Lorna McPherson and general manager Michael Chammas.
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PNG publication, Post Courier, posted footage of Luai at Sir John Guise Stadium for a Digicel ExxonMobil Cup double-header match.
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Chammas was spotted next to Luai as the five-eighth waved to the crowd.
Michael Chammas (left) and Jarome Luai (right). Post-Courier
The Sydney Morning Herald reports Luai has until April 30 to take up an option to stay with Tigers for next season. The Chiefs don’t enter the competition until 2028.
If Luai was to depart the Tigers for the Chiefs in 2028 it would mean he only played three years of a five-year deal at the joint venture.
Previous Tigers CEO Shane Richardson had repeatedly claimed that Luai told him his motivation to join the club was “all about the (premiership) rings”.
The Chiefs are yet to sign any players but it’s highly likely Kumuls representative Alex Johnston will be one of the first to sign.
Jarome Luai. Getty
Toby Rudolf has expressed interest in playing for Papua New Guinea, and is off-contract this season.
The allure of tax-free contracts will entice a lot of players and Broncos lock Patrick Carrigan has previously refused to rule out a move either.