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Join now and get your first month for just $1<\/a>.<\/p>\n So, who could follow suit and who will replace Luai at the Tigers in the long-term.<\/p>\n Those are just a few of the biggest questions to come out of Tuesday\u2019s development.<\/p>\n WHO REPLACES HIM AT THE TIGERS?<\/p>\n Luai\u2019s decision gives the Tigers ample time to plan and make a decision regarding who will replace him.<\/p>\n So who are the candidates?<\/p>\n The obvious frontrunner is Latu Fainu, who has long been touted as a star of the future but has had a stuttering time at the merger club.<\/p>\n The 20-year-old become a household name across the NRL after signing a mammoth contract as a 16-year-old at the Sea Eagles, before he was given permission to depart in 2023.<\/p>\n From there he joined the Tigers and made his debut in 2024, going on to play 27 games since joining, although injuries have kept him sidelined.<\/p>\n Fainu has also been stuck behind several players, including Jarome Luai and Adam Doueihi, but has shown glimpses of his talent off the bench.<\/p>\n By the time the 2028 season rolls around, Fainu should have a wealth of NRL experience if he continues to slot in off the bench, and hopefully he has sorted his lingering injury issues.<\/p>\n His sheer talent make him the obvious choice to slot in \u2013 but he isn\u2019t without competition.<\/p>\n At the start of the season, you\u2019d have been laughed at by saying Jarome Luai offered for Jock Madden to remain in the halves ahead of him, but that actually happened.<\/p>\n MORE JAROME LUAI NEWS<\/p>\n \u2018IRRESISTIBLE\u2019: Inside PNG\u2019s Luai pitch with three stars named as next targets<\/a><\/p>\n OPINION: Why Luai\u2019s shock PNG switch is the right move… for Tigers, the NRL and the star man himself<\/a><\/p>\n Latu Fainu passes the ball. (Photo by Darrian Traynor\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n Such was his form, the Tigers skipper put his hand up to come off the pine to keep Madden\u2019s partnership with Doueihi rolling on.<\/p>\n The 26-year-old has done exactly what was needed by Benji Marshall since returning to the club ahead of the 2026 season after a stint at the Broncos.<\/p>\n By the time 2028 rolls around, and if there\u2019s any more injuries, Madden could well be the frontrunner to take Luai\u2019s spot if he continues to get minutes.<\/p>\n What makes the situation between these two even more interesting is that both have contracts that run until the end of the 2027 season.<\/p>\n So any signing from now is a signal of intent from the Tigers, and both could be itching to sit down and renegotiate with the club before they become free agents on November 1.<\/p>\n There\u2019s a high possibility both are kept, given every club needs depth \u2013 but the fact they are off-contract at the same time leaves options open for both the club and the players.<\/p>\n Elsewhere, the wildcard in this equation is young gun Javon Andrews who has a development contract for 2026.<\/p>\n The rising star is then promoted to the top 30 for the 2027 and 2028 seasons, giving him a clear run at claiming that vacant halves spot.<\/p>\n The 19-year-old won the Under-19s State of Origin Player of the Match in 2025 and has impressed those within the club.<\/p>\n While Fainu and Madden both will be battling it out, that pair should be looking over their shoulder for Andrews, who could shoot past both if he lives up to his potential.<\/p>\n Get all the latest NRL news, highlights and analysis delivered straight to your inbox with Fox Sports Sportmail. Sign up now!!!<\/a><\/p>\n Javon Andrews is one to watch. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n WILL THE NEWS \u2018GALVANISE\u2019 THE TIGERS OR DERAIL THEIR SEASON?<\/p>\n This is one the question that realistically no one inside those four walls can answer, but we may get some indication in the next few weeks.<\/p>\n At least, that is the opinion of former NRL playmaker Luke Keary, who said that questions could be asked even if Luai is sticking with the club until the end of 2027.<\/p>\n \u201cThe thing I\u2019m interested to see now is how the boys inside that team react,\u201d Keary said on \u2018James Graham\u2019s The Bye Round Podcast\u2019. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s probably the barometer for their energy. He\u2019s change their culture… he\u2019s their leader. Now this may murky the water a little bit like, \u2018Jarome, are you with us? Are you all in with us here, mate?\u2019 <\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019ll find out in the next one or two weeks whether this affects them, because it can.\u201d<\/p>\n There is little doubt Luai\u2019s full focus will remain on delivering the Tigers a breakthrough premiership.<\/p>\n In fact, he may only be even more motivated to do just that before he leaves for PNG and even if he can\u2019t take the Tigers to the grand final, the team\u2019s turnaround this year is enough evidence that he along with coach Benji Marshall has this side trending in the right direction. <\/p>\n You only have to look at how Luai performed for the Panthers in his final season before leaving for the Tigers as proof that he is the ultimate professional. <\/p>\n The question really is how his teammates will react to the news, and former NRL front rower James Graham said that will be particularly true of the younger members in the squad.<\/p>\n TALKING PTS: Why Dogs can only blame themselves; career truth facing Bellamy<\/a><\/p>\n Luai is a key figure at the Tigers. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe\/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think anything is going to change the output of Jarome Luai… but it can impact your teammates, especially those younger players that would be hanging off every word of Jarome Luai,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n However, while Luai has obviously played an important role in establishing a winning culture at the club, as The Daily Telegraph\u2019s David Riccio pointed out on \u2018NRL 360\u2019, Benji Marshall is ultimately the leading figurehead at the club. <\/p>\n \u201cI think it\u2019s under the management of Benji that holds this team together anyway,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n To this point, Marshall has been able to largely keep the external noise out as the Tigers hype train rolled on and it\u2019ll likely be the same here when it comes to Luai\u2019s decision. <\/p>\n Plus, at least this gives the Tigers and the rest of the playing group certainty moving forward. <\/p>\n To that point, foxsports.com.au columnist Paul Crawley said this could instead \u201cgalvanise\u201d the club.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s an opportunity here, depending on how it goes and how he and Benji handles this, that it can also galvanise the team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019ve proven they\u2019ve got a squad capable of challenging right now.\u201d<\/p>\n Could PNG Chiefs become a hated club? | 03:41<\/p>\n WHO IS NEXT FOR THE CHIEFS… AND THE ONE CLUB AT RISK OF BEING POACHED<\/p>\n Luai is the marquee name. Alex Johnston confirmed on social media he\u2019s making the move too. That is just the start. <\/p>\n Braith Anasta said on NRL 360 that he has \u201cheard a lot\u201d about other players who are interested in joining the Chiefs, and a lot of that goes back to the tax-free incentives.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s irresistible. It\u2019s too hard to refuse,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt is such a huge appeal to players to go over and play.\u201d<\/p>\n With that in mind, Anasta predicted that unlike some other expansion teams, the Chiefs could be a \u201cvery competitive team\u201d from the jump.<\/p>\n So, who could be next? <\/p>\n Well, the advantage the Chiefs have is the tax-free incentives which will help them continue to attract big names and two of Luai\u2019s former teammates have been heavily linked to the club. <\/p>\n Mitch Kenny has been tipped to become the team\u2019s inaugural skipper, which would make plenty of sense as the Panthers hooker is a deep thinker who has done work in platypus conservation and recently spent his offseason in Borneo, taking in the local wildlife. <\/p>\n All of that is to say that Kenny is the type of player who would see value in the opportunity to immerse himself in the PNG culture and understand the privilege of captaining a team that represents an entire nation and its people.<\/p>\n Martin, meanwhile, would bring a hard edge to the Chiefs\u2019 forward pack while also helping create a winning culture alongside Kenny and Luai. <\/p>\n There are five other Panthers off-contract who can negotiate with rival clubs from November 1 including Nathan Cleary, Moses Leota and Isaah Yeo. It is part of the reason why Anasta believes they are the club who are most at risk of being poached by the Chiefs now that Luai is on board.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Panthers can\u2019t possibly keep everyone,\u201d Anasta said.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Panthers have had their success. They\u2019ve won their premierships. Your mindset changes as you get older. You\u2019ve got to think family, you\u2019ve got to think kids… it changes everything when you\u2019ve won that many premierships. I would think the most at risk of feeling the impact of this signing is the Panthers.\u201d<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776909012_441_poster-fallback.png\"\/)
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