Ivan Cleary’s truth bomb for Jarome Luai amid $850,000 Panthers decision

The Pumas mentor accepts Jarome Luai will wait regardless of conceding “cash talks”.

Puma’s mentor Ivan Cleary accepts star playmaker Jarome Luai will remain at the foot at the mountain past the following year regardless of yielding that “cash talks”. Image: Getty

Penrith mentor Ivan Cleary has conceded “cash talks” in the midst of Jarome Luai looking set to test the open market. The star five-eighth from Penrith has a $1.7 million contract for two years that he hasn’t signed yet. Now that the November 1 deadline has come and gone, he’s one of 160 players who can look into other contract options.

However, Cleary is of the opinion that Luai ought to remain at the mountain’s base because that is where he “belongs.” He definitely belongs here, in my opinion. I believe we’re great for himself as well as he’s really great for us,” Cleary said.

“Yet, there’s no question assuming that the offers we are hearing … the thing is before today, they’re simply maybes. I suppose once they become actual offers, he can learn more about the choices to be made, so let’s see how that goes.

The 26-year-old is supposed to handle offers of near $1.1 million a season from rival clubs. Cleary is concerned that his clever playmaker might leave for a different team and become a key player there, but he wonders if he is ready for that responsibility.

In an effort to persuade the three-time premiership winner to stay, the Panthers have increased their offer to Jarome Luai. Image: Getty

“Assuming any club, the cash we are talking, the cash he might consider leaving, it would need to be for that sort of job (being the central playmaker) which I would comprehend,” Cleary said. ” Is he up to that yet? I would consider that to be a question mark. Could he at any point make it happen? I’m certain he could make it happen. Is he up to it? He really hasn’t. He has a role to play on this team. That is a gamble everybody would need to take.”

Last month, Luai said that he was signing with management firm Black Money Enterprises, which manages Latrell Michell and Cody Walker, in what appeared to be a sign that he might be leaving.

Despite the Panthers’ third straight title, the team faces the possibility that some of its stars will leave due to limited salary cap space. Penrith recently extended fullback Dylan Edward’s contract, giving him $850,000 per year for four years. Penrith also has a lot of big-money players, like Nathan Cleary, who makes about $1.3 million per year, James Fisher-Harris, who makes $950,000, and Liam Martin, who makes $750,000.

Even though Cleary admits that he hasn’t talked to Luai recently, he is quietly confident that the Panthers will keep his fifth and eighth. I feel very at ease with where it is. I haven’t addressed him as of late, this is the day everybody was sitting tight for,” he said.

“Everybody is continuously searching for excellent parts and he’s certainly one of those. But he knows where we are, so it’s just a matter of him getting what’s out there, looking it over, and returning, and we’ll see what happens next. We need to make it truly clear we believe that he should remain. He probably wants to stay, too, I think. However, money is a factor, so I guess we’ll wait and see.”

According to Panthers legend Mark Geyer, if he were in Luai’s position, he would accept Penrith’s offer and remain with the defending premiers. “It would be a mistake to not accept Penrith’s offer,” Geyer stated in an interview with Triple M last month. I’d stay because that feeling of winning every week and being a part of that, it’s contagious,” he stated. “In your heart, you’d be mad not to take the money.” It doesn’t feel good to be losing a lot of money and losing a lot of money.

According to Geyer, “He’s won three competitions with Penrith, you look at some of the other players who have left Penrith of the last few seasons, only someone like (Kurt) Capewell at the Broncos has seen success.” “He’s won three competitions with Penrith,” Geyer stated. Competitions and money can’t always buy happiness. Why not make it four? He has won three straight.