The Wests Tigers have officially announced that Jarome Luai will leave the club at the end of the current season following a mutual decision to release him a year early.
Initially, Luai had committed to a five-year contract with the Tigers before joining in 2025; however, annual renewal clauses within the agreement allowed him to explore other opportunities.
In a surprising announcement back in April, Luai was revealed as the first inaugural signing for the PNG Chiefs, set to join them in 2028.
While he will continue playing for the Tigers throughout the 2026 season, it's probable that he will secure a one-year deal with another club for 2027 before heading to Port Moresby the following season.
Benji Marshall, the Tigers' coach, expressed gratitude towards Luai for his professionalism throughout the negotiations.
"Firstly, I want to thank Jarome for his maturity during these discussions and his team first mentality," Marshall stated in a club release.
"We've got some great young halves here at the Club and we need to provide them with the best chance to grow and develop as players, which means we need to give them opportunities to test themselves at NRL level."
"With Jarome leaving at the end of next season, it was going to prove a challenge for us to do that, and he didn't want to stand in the way of young players getting their opportunity and the overall journey of this group."
"This agreement is testament to Jarome and his commitment to this group, that he's willing to step aside to ensure the Club is in the best position possible over the next few years.
"We want to wish Jarome and his family well with the next chapter of his career."
Luai will depart the club two years into his five-year deal but leaves behind a legacy of professionalism and culture that he has contributed to during his tenure.