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Panthers star Jarome Luai has taken to social media to share his engagement to his long-term partner amid the news swirling around his NRL future.
Luai announced his engagement to partner Bailey Paris Toleafoa on Instagram on Christmas Day, with a number of Panthers teammates including Brian To’o and Sunia Turuva reacting to the news.
It was reported that Luai had agreed to terms with the Tigers on a five-year, $6 million deal from 2025 and that the polarising playmaker had told Penrith teammates he was leaving the club.
However, according to The Daily Telegraph, Luai still hasn’t made his mind up yet, leaving the Tigers in limbo.
The club however believe a deal will be signed an announced in the coming days, despite wanting to originally to do so before Christmas.
Luai was a no-show at Panthers training last week after requesting leave, fuelling speculation that he’d depart Penrith early to join the Tigers from 2024.
The Panthers were only able to offer Luai a two-year deal worth $850,000 a season, an amount dwarfed by the reported deal from the Tigers.
If he does eventually sign with the Tigers, Luai’s former NSW coach Brad Fittler believes the playmaker can make the transition to halfback, drawing parallels between Luai and new Tigers coach Benji Marshall.
“Benji wasn’t a traditional halfback, but he ended up playing halfback his way,” Fittler said.
“Some of Benji’s best footy was at the end (of his career) and he was playing a completely different role.
“He’s a great example of the possibilities here. And again, Jarome’s just never had that responsibility.
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