NRL legend delivers warning to Jarome Luai

Parramatta Eels and NRL legend Peter Sterling has delivered a warning to Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai as he gets ready to make a call on his future.

The star five-eighth, who is off-contract at the end of 2024, has the Penrith Panthers, Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs all believed to be interested.

According to News Corp, it is also understood that a decision regarding his future will be made by the time he returns for pre-season training on December 8.

However, despite the Wests Tigers offering Luai’s management a reported $4.5 million over four seasons, Sterling has warned Luai to take his time in making the decision and carefully mull over his future.

“I know back in my time at Parramatta, there were opportunities to go elsewhere but you have to weigh up a lot of things, especially the fact that you’re at a club that’s successful,” he told 9News Sydney.

“[Are you] pretty happy with where you are living and the way things are going? Do you disrupt that while not necessarily knowing whether you are going to enjoy where you’re headed?”

While the decision from Luai may be imminent, the Panthers have confirmed they won’t be matching the bid, but reports have suggested they have offered the representative star a two-year contract extension worth $1.7 million.

One of the greatest players to ever don the halfback jersey and a key member in the Eels dynasty that saw them clinch three consecutive premierships, Sterling has urged Luai that there is more to the game than just money.

“It’s never all about the money,” Sterling said.

“If you go for the money, you’re going for the wrong reason — that’s first and foremost.

“Obviously it’s a huge consideration but there are a lot of other ones [too].

“He’ll end up making the right decision and it’ll be the choice that his gut and his heart tells him is the best way to go,” he added.

It is understood that Luai has just over two weeks to determine where he will be playing his rugby league from 2025 onwards.

Rugby league legend Peter Sterling has warned Jarome Luai to be wary of big-money deals from rival NRL clubs as the five-eighth weighs up his future.

The Penrith Panthers remain optimistic about retaining the off-contract and in-demand 26-year-old, with club director Greg Alexander emphatically rejecting the prospect of Luai receiving an early release on Friday.

With the Wests Tigers attempting to lure Luai away from the Panthers’ dynasty, Sterling advised the NSW and Samoan representative to mull over upheaving his career.

“I know back in my time at Parramatta, there were opportunities to go elsewhere but you have to weigh up a lot of things, especially the fact that you’re at a club that’s successful,” he told 9News Sydney.

“[Are you] pretty happy with where you are living and the way things are going? Do you disrupt that while not necessarily knowing whether you are going to enjoy where you’re headed?”

The Tigers have reportedly tabled a four-year deal worth around $4.5 million, with one year left to run on Luai’s current contract.

In comparison, the Panthers are said to have offered Luai a two-year extension worth $1.7 million.

One of the greatest playmakers in rugby league history, Sterling cautioned Luai about chasing pay packets.

“It’s never all about the money,” he said.

“If you go for the money, you’re going for the wrong reason — that’s first and foremost.

“Obviously it’s a huge consideration but there are a lot of other ones [too].

No matter the outcome, Sterling was confident Luai would make the right call for his circumstances.

“He’ll end up making the right decision and it’ll be the choice that his gut and his heart tells him is the best way to go,” he said.

In 2024, Luai will be a key cog in the Panthers premiership defence as the side targets an unprecedented fourth-straight title.

Sterling’s Eels were unable to complete their quest for a four-peat in 1984 and the Parramatta legend was unsure if the Panthers would be able to win a fourth title in succession.

“To be able to win three in a row is extraordinary and they have been able to keep a vast majority of their players, and their junior nursey keeps bringing these great young talents through,” he said.

“They’re going to be hard to beat.