Jarome Luai says his love of a challenge and determination to step out of Nathan Cleary’s shadow were major factors behind his big-money move to the Wests Tigers. And the marquee signing insists he’s in for the long haul amid fears Luai could use player options in his new deal and walk from the Tigers after just two years, despite signing a five-year deal, $6 million deal.

Luai concedes he played “second fiddle” to Cleary at the Panthers, with the star halves pair helping the club to four straight NRL premierships. But the 27-year-old says he’s excited about being the main man at the Tigers, who will be hoping Luai’s class and experience will bring back success to Benji Marshall’s side and help them avoid a fourth straight wooden spoon.

The left image shows former Penrith teammates Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary.
Jarome Luai says the desire to step out of Nathan Cleary’s shadow was a huge reason behind his move to the Wests Tigers.

“To sort of knock it on the head everyone just saw it (the Tigers offer) as a great deal to take, for me I love a challenge, I am a competitive dude,” Luai said on the ‘Behind the Roar’ podcast. “My wife will tell you at home I don’t let my kids win anything when we’re mucking around out the back. I’m a really competitive guy and if someone tells me I can’t do something that makes me want to push for it even more in a way.

good I can be. There (at the Panthers) I was always the second fiddle guy, I was never going to be that guy. When this opportunity came up, this was a way to show people how good I can be, and what better way to do it than come here and show what I’m made of.”

Luai has moved to shut down his chances of returning to Penrith after just two years as he undergoes pre-season training with his new teammates. Luai joined Marshall and the Tigers last week for the first time after his big-money move.

Plenty has been made of Luai’s signing with the likes of Terrell May, Sunia Turuva and Royce Hunt also joining the wooden spoon outfit in a huge $4 million splash. However, Penrith fans became excited recently when it was revealed Luai could leave the Tigers after just two years because the final three years of his deal are ‘player options’.

Panthers fans could see the possibility of Luai returning to Penrith if things don’t go to plan at the Wests Tigers. This is despite a salary cap squeeze at the NRL premiers making this appear unlikely.