LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
After securing his third consecutive premiership win with the Panthers, Jarome Luai expressed his desire to put contract talks on hold and celebrate.
Luai, the team's five-eighth, stated that it was "time to party" and that he would worry about his future at a later date.
Despite carrying a shoulder injury into the grand final, Luai planned to enjoy the victory with a few beers to help ease the pain.
However, there is uncertainty surrounding Luai's future at Penrith.
If he does not sign a new deal before November 1, rival clubs will be able to negotiate with him.
The Panthers have already secured long-term contracts with many of their star players, leaving approximately $800,000 in the salary cap for Luai.
This amount is considerably less than what other clubs are expected to offer him.
The Panthers have become accustomed to losing players in recent years, with the likes of Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Api Koroisau, Viliame Kikau, and Matt Burton all moving on.
Luai, who is 26 years old and has a young family, now faces a difficult decision between chasing more money elsewhere or remaining with Penrith, where he has the potential to win more premiership rings.
For now, Luai's focus is on celebrating the Panthers' grand final win and enjoying the moment.
Contract negotiations can wait, as he embraces the joy of another premiership victory.