Luai’s Tigers trigger date revealed as Bula’s manager begins gauging rivals

5 hours ago 4

Wests Tigers marquee man Jarome Luai has until April 30 next year to trigger a three-year option in his contract to remain at the club beyond the end of 2026.

While Wests Tigers chief executive Shane Richardson trumpeted Luai’s signing as a five-year deal, this masthead revealed his contract is for an initial two-year period, which expires at the end of 2026, with a three-year option in his favour to stay at the club until the end of 2029.

Luai has until the start of round nine next year to decide on his future, but is free to open negotiations with rival clubs on November 1 this year if he chooses to test the market. The Tigers remain hopeful the NSW five-eighth will recommit to the club.

The 28-year-old is enjoying life at the Tigers and is one of coach Benji Marshall’s staunchest supporters.

The Tigers have made it clear Marshall’s position is safe despite a recent run of six consecutive losses, which ended on the weekend with an impressive win over the Sydney Roosters.

Jarome Luai has until April 30 next year to decide on his future.

By round nine next year, Luai will likely know whether the Tigers are planning to stick with Marshall in the long term, a move that would be looked upon favourably by their star playmaker.

It comes as Tigers fullback Jahream Bula has been tossed up to rival clubs as a prospective November 1 target.

Sources with knowledge of the situation talking on the condition of anonymity told this masthead that Bula’s manager, Isaac Moses, has already begun gauging interest from rival NRL clubs on behalf of his client.

Jahream Bula is part of the Isaac Moses stable.

Moses, who oversaw Lachlan Galvin’s tumultuous departure from the club this year, took over as Bula’s manager after his previous agent, Liam Ayoub, left the industry to join the Bulldogs as recruitment manager.

Ayoub oversaw the negotiation of Bula’s current deal with former Tigers chief executive Justin Pascoe. His contract includes a mutual option for the 2027 season.

If the Tigers decide to exercise the option, Bula will play the 2027 season on a salary of $900,000. If the Tigers decide against retaining Bula at that price, he has the opportunity of taking up a player option at $800,000.

Moses, however, will not earn any income from a contract negotiated by another agent and would only earn a percentage of Bula’s pay if he were to negotiate a new contract with the Tigers or a rival club.

If the Tigers don’t take up Bula’s option by November 1 this year, Moses can begin formal negotiations with rival clubs for the 2027 season.

The Tigers are also expected to begin discussions with South Sydney about the future of Jayden Sullivan. The playmaker still has two years to run on his deal with the Tigers, which is worth about $600,000 a year.

Wests Tigers agreed to release Sullivan on loan to the Rabbitohs this year, with Souths chipping in about $150,000 for his services.

The Rabbitohs have indicated they are willing to keep Sullivan at the club for another season but want the Tigers to make a similar financial contribution.

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