Updated July 16, 2026 — 9:19am,first published 8:51amWests Tigers captain Jarome Luai says he “is fully supportive” of the joint-venture club’s decision to release him from his contract 12 months early and stresses he has had no falling-out with coach Benji Marshall.Luai has been released from the final year of his contract with the Tigers, and he will spend an interim year at Parramatta before heading to Papua New Guinea to lead the new Chiefs franchise in 2028.“It was a bit of a shock,” Luai said of the club’s move last week to release him from the 2027 component of his contract, when he fronted the media for the first time Thursday.“I’m fully supportive of the club doing that … the last thing I want to be is a roadblock to someone else’s success,” Luai said in reference to the young halves who will now be prioritised by Marshall.Earlier this week, Marshall denied there was a breakdown in his relationship with Luai and said the decision to part ways was made with the team’s long-term future in mind.Luai sang from the same hymn sheet when asked about his relationship with the coach. “He’s been really transparent with me, and that’s why I respect him,” he said.Luai will now play for three different clubs in three years following a period of stability early in his career, where he debuted for the Panthers in 2018 before winning four premierships with them from 2021 to 2024.Parramatta coach Jason Ryles said the decision to sign Luai was part of a long-term strategy, rather than a “sugar hit”.“The opportunity to sign Jarome came up, and the thought process behind that was that Jarome’s record speaks for itself – he’s a winner,” Ryles said.“Culturally, we see him as a good fit, and he gives us an opportunity to win now, but then also give our younger halves more time to develop – that’s with his tutelage.More to come.From our partners