Wests Tigers shocked the rugby league world earlier this week when they dropped a mid-season bombshell.
On Thursday afternoon, reports emerged from CODE Sports that the club had granted fifth-eighth and co-captain Jarome Luay permission to leave the team as early as the end of this season.
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“We’re fine. Obviously it’s not ideal before the game, but we’re all locked in and we’re not going to use that as an excuse tonight,” Adam Douaihe said on Fox League.
The expected departure of Luay (who has been heavily linked with the Eels) is expected to free up around $1.2 million in salary cap space, giving the Tigers significant flexibility to make squad changes under coach Benji Marshall.
While the club are understood to be prioritizing contract updates and long-term extensions for rising stars Latu and Samuela Fainu with extra salary cap space, Fox League analyst Michael Ennis believes there could be an even bigger reason behind the decision.
“It’s about Latu Fainu. They want to extend his contract. We haven’t seen the best Latu yet, there was so much optimism around him,” Ennis said on the Friday Night Football pre-match show.
“He was a high school star (but) just couldn’t make it (while at the Tigers). His body failed him.”
“I don’t think they’re going to make that decision unless there’s somebody sitting in the background that they want to spend a good chunk of that $1.2 million on to come in and do it.”
Jarome Luai Wests leaves TigersSource: Supplied
While Fine is set to be handed the keys to a long-term five-eighth role, Ennis believes the club should have an even bigger target in mind and has proposed a blockbuster alternative.
It was here that he suggested the Tigers target Parramatta Eels captain and NSW Blues star playmaker Mitchell Moses.
“Mitch Moses. I know, I’m throwing it away,” the former NRL hooker said.
“If you look at Parramatta at the moment, Mitch is 31 years old. The romanticism is that he returned to where it all began.
“To me, $1.2 million is the ballpark for Mitch Moses and if you look at where Parramatta is at the moment, Mitch would probably look at this squad at the moment and go if I can play with Api Koroisau… Djareem Bula and… Adam Doueihi.
“There are some really good pieces of the puzzle at Wests Tigers that just need someone to unlock them and you will see Moses come into the big game.
“You saw this last night. I know I’m throwing it away.”
Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai played together for New South Wales in 2024. Photo: NRL ImagerySource: Supplied
Although his contract at Parramatta runs until the end of 2029 and there are no early release clauses in his deal, stranger things have happened in the world of rugby league.
One of the NRL’s elite midfielders, the 31-year-old is approaching the final stage of his playing career and could potentially consider a move to another team that could give him a better chance of winning the premiership.
“Parramatta would love to have a pairing like that in Mitchell Moses and Jarome Luai,” Ennis continued.
“But looking at it today, thinking Mitch loves to win, wants to win, and to be honest, I can’t imagine that (happening at the Eels).”
Talking about NRL 360 on Thursday www.foxsports.com.au columnist Paul Crowley described Luay’s impending departure as a “concession” on the part of the Tigers.
Riles reacts to strong rumors about Luai | 01:12
However, he stated that their $1.2 million investment in Star Five-Eight did not produce the expected results.
“I’ll tell you this: if Nathan Cleary comes out of contract right at the end of next year and signs somewhere else, will Penrith send him to the NSW Cup or try to kick him somewhere else so they can bring in a young guy?” – said Crowley.
“The club decided that Zharom was not successful.
“For them to go into the 19th round and admit they’ve effectively given up on their captain, I just don’t understand how you can say this is a success of the Jarome Luai experiment.
“They were selling it because the players wanted to be on a team with Benji and then Zharom Luai would leave.”