The departure of Jarome Luai to the PNG Chiefs means the majority of the attention of the Wests Tigers will now shift towards retaining star fullback Jahream Bula.

Under contract until the end of the 2026 season, Bula has yet to make a decision on his long-term future but does have a player option and club option in his deal to keep him at the joint venture for at least one more season.

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With rival teams likely to circle, the Tigers face mountain pressure to lock in the superstar fullback not just for another season but for the foreseeable future as they look to contend for a premiership in the coming years.

“I don’t think (a decision is fast approaching). They’ve been locked in talks over an extension and it hasn’t happened and that suggests to me it probably won’t happen before the deadline in two weeks,” Code Sports’ Brent Read said on NRL 360.

“Then the ball is in the Tigers court. They can take up that option for $900,000 for next year. I think they’ll work hard to get something done in the next couple of weeks.

“My gut feeling is that Jahream would probably stay (but) there’s a couple reason why he wouldn’t. The main reason why he wouldn’t is if he doesn’t get a deal done and at the moment they haven’t been able to get a deal done.”

‘Bula should be more of a priority’ | 03:47

Failing to retain Bula would not only be a blow on the field due to his elite-calibre talent, but it would also set back the club’s long-term plans as they would then need to go to market to find a suitable replacement.

“Who’s the stopgap? Is it the Tigers? It shouldn’t be to hard, I would’ve thought,” co-host Braith Anasta said.

“It looks pretty clear cut to me…I’m watching at how he’s been playing, what he’s being offered, I’m looking at how happy he is (and) the club’s on the rise. Where else could he possibly go to perform better than what he is right now?

“Who’s got more potential that’s offering him more money?

To which Read replied, “He’s not allowed to go to market, so he wouldn’t know. Obviously, they haven’t been able to reach a satisfactory deal because the deal hasn’t been done.”

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While many believe the relationship between coach Benji Marshall and Bula’s manager Isaac Moses is one of the reasons behind the fullback not extending, Read shut this down.

“They’re not best mates. I don’t think it has (impacted the contract talks). I don’t think that’s the issue at the moment,” he said.

“Galvin wanted to go and the manager was doing what Galvin wanted him to do. In this situation, I don’t think the issues between Benji and Isaac is a stumbling block to the deal getting done.”

Michael Carayannis of The Daily Telegraph added: “It has more impact than Jarome leaving. He has ten years left (in his career).

“He’s a star on the rise. By the time Jarome leaves in 18 months they might not have won a comp but it’ll be job done for Jarome in a way.

“I think Jahream’s got the potential to be an elite fullback in the competition, so losing him would hurt big time