Penrith have told Luai how much they can pay him … It begins with a seven
The Panthers have told five-eighth Jarome Luai they cannot afford to get into a bidding war for his services, with salary cap restrictions meaning he is unlikely to be offered more than $800,000 a season.
Fresh from agreeing a four-year extension to keep Dylan Edwards at the club until the end of 2028 on a deal worth $3.4 million, the Panthers have moved to secure Luai’s signature.
The club has told Luai their offer is likely to be between $700,000-$800,000 a season and don’t have the capacity as it stands to offer him more. No formal offer has been presented to Luai. The Panthers declined to comment when contacted by the Herald on Monday night.
The Penrith five-eighth will become a free agent on November 1, but a range of factors have limited the club’s ability to get a deal done before he hits the market.
It comes as the Panthers secured playmaker Brad Schneider from Super League club Hull KR on a two-year deal to replace Newcastle-bound Jack Cogger.
Luai terminated his contract with management company SFX in the middle of July, but a condition of NRL playing contracts prohibits the two-time premiership winner from linking with a new agency for 90 days.
The Herald reported last month that Luai’s previous manager had told the Panthers SFX would waive the 90-day termination clause if the club was able to strike a deal directly with Luai.
