- Panthers premiership stars in biggest off-season drama
- Rumor had it that he had taken the money to change clubs
- The move to Wests comes amid the club's 12-year finals drought
Jarome Luai has finally confirmed he has signed a five-year contract to join the Wests Tigers from 2025, bringing an end to the NRL's biggest off-season trade saga.
Penrith's three-time premiership-winning five-eighth had been linked with the Tigers for months and made the move official at a quick press conference in Sydney on Wednesday afternoon.
The deal is believed to be worth more than $1 million per season and is a major coup for a Tigers side in the midst of a 12-year finals drought.
At just 26 years old and with three premierships already under his belt, Luai's signing of a five-year contract is a huge coup for the struggling Tigers
Luai (seen during Panthers training with teammate Nathan Cleary, right) is one of the best playmakers in the NRL, but there will be a lot of work to do to revive Wests
Last month, the 26-year-old informed his teammates of his intention to move from the Panthers, who handed him his debut in 2018 but were unable to match the Tigers' big-money offer.
But no contract was formally signed at the time as new Tigers coach Benji Marshall and club management finalized their offer.
Under the NRL's new transfer rules, Luai had to give the Panthers a 10-day period in which they could try to convince him to stay.
But the Panthers have resigned themselves to the loss of their flamboyant playmaker and have reportedly waived that right this week, paving the way for the move to be confirmed.
After taking a week off for Christmas, Luai is expected back in training with Penrith on Thursday.
The Panthers star's signature is without doubt the best news Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall has had since becoming head coach of the club
He was previously accused of disrespecting the Premiers when he told his teammates he was leaving last month and allegedly prompted a third party to call the club and tell them he would not be attending training.
In early November, Luai made a cryptic take on Ivan Cleary after the Panthers coach claimed it would be a risk for the club's rivals to sign him as their main playmaker after years of playing second fiddle to superstar halfback Nathan Cleary.
'Could he do it? I'm sure he could do it. Did he do it? No, he hasn't,” Ivan said.
“Obviously he did something with Samoa in last year's World Cup, but overall he has played his role in this team and it is something different.
'I think that's a risk for everyone [rivals] should take.'
Luai responded by posting an image to his Instagram Story with the tagline “know your worth,” set to the sound of rapper 50 Cent's “Hustler's Ambition.”