Jarome Luai takes a cryptic shot at Ivan Cleary after the manager said teams looking to sign him away from Penrith could be taking a big risk
- Panthers star Jarome Luai is now open to NRL offers for 2025 and beyond
- Coach Ivan Cleary felt it would be a risk for rival clubs to sign him
- Luai, 26, posted the slogan “Know your worth” on Instagram
Panthers’ out-of-contract five-eighth Jarome Luai has reacted cryptically to coach Ivan Cleary’s claim that it would be a risk for rival NRL clubs to sign him at halfback for 2025 and beyond.
Luai, 26, will have no shortage of offers to leave Penrith and is thought to be able to do deals worth $1 million plus a season.
The NRL premiers are understood to be interested in retaining Luai on a two-year extension but will only be able to raise $850,000 per season due to salary cap restrictions.
On Wednesday, Cleary raised eyebrows after telling reporters that it would be a gamble for other clubs to recruit Luai as their future chief playmaker.
“Could he do it? I’m sure he could do it. Did he do it? No, he didn’t,” he said.
Panthers’ out-of-contract five-eighth Jarome Luai has reacted cryptically to coach Ivan Cleary’s claim that it would be a risk for rival NRL clubs to sign him for 2025 and beyond
Seemingly in response to Cleary, Luai posted an image to his Instagram story on Thursday with the tagline “Know your worth.”
“Obviously he made some progress at the World Cup in Samoa last year, but overall he played his role in this team and it’s a little different.”
“I think that’s a risk that everyone has.” [rivals] would have to take.’
NSW Blues Origin representative Luai took to Instagram on Thursday, apparently in response to Cleary.
He is currently recovering from offseason surgery and posted an image on his Story with the tagline “Know your worth” to the sound of rapper 50 Cent’s “Hustler’s Ambition.”
Cleary raised eyebrows after telling reporters it would be a gamble for other NRL clubs to choose Luai as their future halfback
Cleary also explained that he feels “comfortable” with Luai “exploring his options” and that the pivot “knows what we think of him.”
“Everyone is always looking for quality halves and he is definitely one of them,” he said.
“Now what matters is that he finds out what’s out there, checks it out and comes back to us.”
“We’ve made it pretty clear what we can afford. “I want to be very clear that we want him to stay.
“And I’m pretty sure he wants to stay too. But yeah, money talks, so we’ll see.”