LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
The Wests Tigers' pursuit of Jarome Luai has taken a new twist, with reports suggesting that their planned swap deal for Justin Olam has been put on hold.
According to News Corp, the Tigers have decided to prioritize their efforts in securing Luai, leading to the delay in finalizing the Olam trade.
While Luai is currently contracted to the Penrith Panthers for the 2024 season, it is widely believed that he is seeking a more lucrative deal elsewhere.
The Panthers have already offered him a two-year extension worth $1.7 million, but the Tigers are allegedly prepared to go as high as $4.5 million to secure his services.
Initially, the Tigers were hoping for an immediate swap for Olam, who would have joined the team for the 2024 season, but it now seems likely that Olam will remain at the Melbourne Storm unless a new club can offer him an early release.
There are rumors that former player and current Warrington coach Sam Burgess is interested in signing Olam, who is contracted to the Storm until 2026.
Additionally, there were reports that Luai could join the Tigers as early as 2024 if the club agreed to send David Klemmer and Lachlan Galvin to the Panthers.
However, Penrith director Greg Alexander has vehemently denied these claims, labeling them as completely false.