Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary breaks silence on Jarome Luai exit from club: ‘It’s sad’

Nathan Cleary has broken his silence on Penrith’s three-time premiership-winning five-eighth and close friend Jarome Luai’s decision to leave the club.

Luai signed a five-year contract worth an estimated $6 million to join the Wests Tigers from 2025, ending the NRL’s biggest off-season trade saga.

The 27-year-old, who formed a lethal combination with Cleary at club and rep level, couldn’t ignore the extra money the Tigers had to offer while playing under his boyhood idol Benji Marshall.

“I’ve played alongside ‘Romy’ my entire career at Penrith, since we were 15 years old, which makes it even more difficult,” Cleary said Sydney Morning Herald.

‘It is pathetic. It’s also a business and he has to take care of his beautiful young family.

There were so many people in his ear asking him what he was going to do, so I didn’t want to be the guy asking.

‘He is also at the stage of his career where he can make his own decisions. We all found out he was leaving at the same time.

‘I could never have seen Romy in a different shirt. Now that he has his future secured, we can focus on this year and try to make it special… it’s my last ride with him.”

Cleary has seen a number of big names leave the club due to the Panthers’ success and salary cap restrictions.

“It’s an honest team that we’ve lost in recent years,” he said.

‘I play with Romy the longest, we are in the half together, so that makes it more difficult. He really represents what we stand for as a team, and he is from the region.

‘The more players leave, the more you get used to it.

“I feel like I’m at the age and stage of my career where I’m ready to actually help a young man and build a combination.

“I’m going to have to go to another level in terms of leadership and helping the young guys.”