Updated July 9, 2026 — 3:29pm,first published 2:53pmWests Tigers co-captain Jarome Luai has agreed to leave the club at the end of this season as it looks to free up more than $1 million in salary cap space.Luai is the Tigers’ highest-earning player on approximately $1.2 million next season, and has signed a contract to join incoming franchise PNG Chiefs in 2028.Jarome Luai has been given permission to leave Wests Tigers early.GettyWith his long-term future locked in elsewhere, the Tigers last week raised the prospect of Luai moving on at the end of the season as the club recalibrates its playmaking stocks and an extension for Latu Fainu, his potential replacement in the halves.Concerns over Luai’s recent form and the possibility of him promoting PNG while still a Tigers player next season, prompted them to move. The Tigers are prepared to chip in $200,000 to help Luai land a deal elsewhere.Jarome Luai’s Instagram story after news of his potential early exit broke.InstagramShortly after the news broke, Luai posted a photo of himself on Instagram with the caption: “Gods [sic] plan, not mine”, with Rod Wave’s Moving On as an accompanying soundtrack.Both Fainu and his brother Samuela can entertain rival offers if they go to market on November 1, with the Tigers set to ramp up re-signing talks to tie the pair down beforehand. The club is yet to table formal extension offers to either Latu or Samuela.Dolphins flyer Jake Averillo will also join the Tigers next year on a lucrative four-year deal and is another option to partner Adam Doueihi in the halves.Tigers officials have stressed that there is no issue with Luai, who has a close relationship with coach Benji Marshall. He will take his place as planned against the Warriors on Friday night after being named to return from delayed concussion symptoms.Luai arrived at the Tigers at the end of 2024 as a marquee signing on a $6 million, five-year deal that contained several exit clauses.His off-field influence has been instrumental in helping to turn the underperforming club around, however an exit at the end of this season would come less than halfway through the originally agreed terms of that deal.Jarome Luai may only end up playing two years at the Tigers after signing a five-year deal,NRL PhotosLuai exercised an exit clause earlier this year to become the PNG Chiefs first signing, with the Tigers waiving the 10-day cooling-off period as the NRL’s newest franchise struck their first blow in the player market.The initial announcement of Luai’s PNG deal sparked speculation the Tigers could end up being raided by the Chiefs given his friendships among the NRL squad, however the May brothers Terrell and Taylan, fullback Jahream Bula, winger Sunia Turuva and highly rated teen centre Heamasi Makasini have all re-signed long-term extensions in recent months.More to come...Adrian Proszenko is the Chief Rugby League Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.Dan Walsh is a sports reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.From our partners