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Penrith star Jarome Luai has lost a contract worth $100,000 following a split with his management company, a decision that will probably mean he is placed on the open market on November 1.
Luai could be a $1 million-a-season player at another club, and news of his management shake-up comes at the same time as concerns emerge from Penrith that he will join the Bulldogs to link with one of his mentors, former Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo.
The Bulldogs have not, and cannot, make an offer before November 1 for Luai, who could be the club’s long-term solution at halfback or five-eighth.
It has been a turbulent month for one of the game’s highest profile and most divisive players. Luai was dropped from the NSW Origin side after two solid games and has now left his long-time management company, SFX Sports Group, which manages his coach, Ivan Cleary, and the coach’s superstar son, Nathan – one of Luai’s best mates.
The immediate impact of his split with SFX was the loss of his lucrative sponsorship with JBL electronic goods – a deal that seemed to be a perfect match for Luai given his edgy image, love of music and the boom box. The company was frustrated with Luai’s communication with them, and, once he left SFX, they withdrew their two-year deal worth $100,000.
SFX has been managing the strained relationship with JBL.
Luai has told people he will manage himself – and he is free to do that – but he has been strongly linked to Black Money, the company that looks after Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. He has also been pursued by Liam Ayoub, who, along with his dad, Sam, manages Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o.
Luai will need to wait three months to link with another manager, which is a condition of NRL playing contracts, and SFX won’t let him leave early. That will mean he has a new manager in mid-October – shortly before he can talk to rival NRL clubs.
The Tigers, Bulldogs, Dragons, Raiders (who need a replacement for Jack Wighton, who is heading to South Sydney) and, potentially, the Roosters will have an interest in Luai. Roosters half Luke Keary will retire at the end of next year – just when Luai could arrive.
Luai spoke to me about his love of the Panthers during the State of Origin series but conceded that, as a father of three, he has a family to consider in his next deal.
www.smh.com.au
Luai could be a $1 million-a-season player at another club, and news of his management shake-up comes at the same time as concerns emerge from Penrith that he will join the Bulldogs to link with one of his mentors, former Panthers assistant Cameron Ciraldo.
The Bulldogs have not, and cannot, make an offer before November 1 for Luai, who could be the club’s long-term solution at halfback or five-eighth.
It has been a turbulent month for one of the game’s highest profile and most divisive players. Luai was dropped from the NSW Origin side after two solid games and has now left his long-time management company, SFX Sports Group, which manages his coach, Ivan Cleary, and the coach’s superstar son, Nathan – one of Luai’s best mates.
The immediate impact of his split with SFX was the loss of his lucrative sponsorship with JBL electronic goods – a deal that seemed to be a perfect match for Luai given his edgy image, love of music and the boom box. The company was frustrated with Luai’s communication with them, and, once he left SFX, they withdrew their two-year deal worth $100,000.
SFX has been managing the strained relationship with JBL.
Luai has told people he will manage himself – and he is free to do that – but he has been strongly linked to Black Money, the company that looks after Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. He has also been pursued by Liam Ayoub, who, along with his dad, Sam, manages Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o.
Luai will need to wait three months to link with another manager, which is a condition of NRL playing contracts, and SFX won’t let him leave early. That will mean he has a new manager in mid-October – shortly before he can talk to rival NRL clubs.
The Tigers, Bulldogs, Dragons, Raiders (who need a replacement for Jack Wighton, who is heading to South Sydney) and, potentially, the Roosters will have an interest in Luai. Roosters half Luke Keary will retire at the end of next year – just when Luai could arrive.
Luai spoke to me about his love of the Panthers during the State of Origin series but conceded that, as a father of three, he has a family to consider in his next deal.
NRL 2023: Jarome Luai’s split with agent sparks alarm bells at Penrith Panthers
News of Jarome Luai’s management shake-up comes at the same time as concerns emerge from Penrith that he will join the Bulldogs.
