Regarding Penrith’s three-time premiership-winning five-eighth and close friend Jarome Luai’s decision to leave the team, Nathan Cleary has spoken out.
The biggest trade story of the NRL off-season came to an end when Luai signed a five-year contract worth an estimated $6 million to join the Wests Tigers starting in 2025.
The 27-year-old, who formed a deadly tandem with Cleary at the club and representative levels, was unable to turn down the increased compensation offered by the Tigers, where he was coached by his childhood hero, Benji Marshall.
“It’s even more difficult because I’ve played with ‘Romy’ my entire Penrith career—since we were 15 years old,” Cleary told the Sydney Morning Herald.
It’s depressing. In addition, he has a business to run and must take care of his lovely little family.
I didn’t want to be the guy asking him what to do because there were a lot of people in his ear already.
Additionally, he is in a position in his career where he can decide for himself. At the same time, we all learned that he was going to be leaving.
“I could never have imagined Romy wearing a different jersey.” Now that he has his future secured, we can concentrate on making this year special because it’s my last ride with him.
Cleary has seen some big names forced out of the team as a result of salary cap restrictions and the Panthers’ success.
“We’ve lost a fair squad over the years,” he remarked.
It’s harder because Romy and I play together in the halves and I’ve played with him the longest. He’s from the area and embodies our team’s values perfectly.
“You get used to it more and more as players leave.”
