Jarome Luai is a Samoan international rugby league footballer who plays as a five-eighth for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.Luai has also showcased his talent by representing the NSW Blues in State of Origin, playing for Samoa at both test and 9’s levels, and contributing to the Māori All Stars at the international level.
Bio/Wiki
Age- 26 years
Height- 184 cm
Weight- 90 kg
Born- 16 January 1997
Birthplace-Sydney, Australia
Spouse-Bailey Toleafoa
Profession-Rugby league stand-off
Date joined- 11 May 2018 (Penrith Panthers)
Position- Five-eighth, Halfback
Parents
Jarome Luai parents are Martin Luai and Raumako Rai. Born on January 16, 1997, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, Jarome Luai’s family faced hardship when his father was charged with drug trafficking in 2015, leading to his imprisonment in a Brisbane maximum security cell. The family separated during a police raid on their Dharruk home. Despite being unable to witness Jarome’s NRL debut due to his incarceration, Jarome’s father emotionally experienced the moment through the radio. It’s worth noting that Jarome’s father has Samoan heritage.
Sibling
Jarome has two younger sisters and a younger brother, making him a part of a family with three siblings in total.
Wife
Married to Bailey Toleafoa, Jarome, and Bailey choose to maintain the privacy of their personal lives. They have not publicly disclosed many details about their marriage or relationship.
Children
Jarome is blessed with three children named Israel Luai, Akira Luai, and Halo Luai.
Career
Luai demonstrated his rugby league skills in the NYC while playing for the Penrith Panthers from 2015 to 2017, where he notched 13 tries and successfully kicked 43 goals. Transitioning to the New South Wales Cup in part of the 2017 season, he later emerged as the sole member of the Samoan squad without prior NRL experience during the 2017 World Cup.
Since that time, Jarome Luai, the Samoan international rugby league player, has progressed significantly in his career. Key moments include his NRL debut in 2018 and a standout year in 2020, contributing to Penrith’s Minor Premiership. Despite initial challenges, such as being cut from the NRL lineup in 2018, Luai persevered and left his mark in the 2019 NRL season, making 13 appearances for Penrith. His career continued to ascend with selection for the 2021 State of Origin series and substantial contributions to Penrith’s success in the 2022 NRL season, culminating in a Premiership victory.
In 2023, Luai faced difficulties, including a loss in the World Club Challenge and a tumultuous State of Origin series. Despite setbacks, he played a pivotal role in Penrith’s NRL Grand Final triumph.
In 2017, Jarome Luai, the Samoan international rugby league player, entered the World Cup as the sole member of the Samoan squad without prior NRL experience. Since then, he has made significant strides in his career, with notable highlights including his NRL debut in 2018 and a breakout year in 2020, contributing to Penrith’s Minor Premiership. Luai continued his success, representing New South Wales in the State of Origin and achieving a grand final victory with Penrith in the 2022 NRL season.
Jarome Luai Contract
Jarome Luai Confirms Move to Wests Tigers in 2025 NRL Season
Jarome Luai has revealed his departure from the three-time premiers Penrith at the conclusion of the upcoming NRL season. This decision comes after securing a five-year contract with the Wests Tigers. Luai, who put an end to weeks of speculation regarding his future, officially announced on Wednesday that he will be joining the new club in 2025. Despite acknowledging it as the most challenging decision in his career, he emphasized that the move was motivated by family and personal considerations.
“The obvious reason was it was a great opportunity for me to provide for my family but also to create something for myself,” Luai told a media conference in Sydney on Wednesday.
Luai highlighted that another pivotal factor influencing his decision to join the Wests Tigers was the prospect of playing under the guidance of coach Benji Marshall.
“I’ve had a great connection with Benji … we’ve spoken about the future and what he sees in me moving forward,” he said.
“So I’m really excited about it [and] excited about the challenge, as well.”
In the previous month, the 26-year-old informed his teammates about his decision to part ways with the Panthers. The Panthers opted not to match the substantial offer from the Tigers. Although no formal contract was signed during that period, discussions were underway as coach Benji Marshall and the club management finalized the proposed deal.
In accordance with the NRL’s updated transfer regulations, Luai was obligated to provide the Panthers with a 10-day window during which they could attempt to persuade him to remain with the club.
Coming to terms with the inevitability of Jarome Luai’s departure, the Panthers are believed to have forgone that privilege this week, thereby facilitating the confirmation of Luai’s transfer to the Tigers.
“We definitely got more attention than we would have liked these past couple of months,” Luai said.
Marshall said Luai would be a valuable addition to the Tigers’ roster in 2025.
“His experience as a genuine premiership-winning playmaker will be great for us and the future of our club,” Marshall said in a Tigers statement.
“We love the way Jarome plays his footy and even better, he is a great person.”
Following a week-long break before Christmas, Luai is anticipated to resume training with Penrith on Thursday. Making his NRL debut with the Panthers in 2018, he rose through the club’s junior ranks. Notably, he served as the five-eighth in the Panthers’ premiership wins from 2021 to 2023. Additionally, Luai boasts seven State of Origin appearances for New South Wales and has played 11 Tests for Samoa.
Net Worth 2024
As of 2024, Jarome Luai’s net worth is reported to be 10 million dollars.
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