Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai has been linked with a potential move to the Tigers due to his relationship with coach Benji Marshall amid a three-way tug of war for his services.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary sparked a media furore over his comments Luai would be a risk for clubs wanting to make him their chief playmaker, which brought a social media response from his five-eighth.
Speaking on The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast, Brent Read believes Cleary made a mistake in making those comments whatever his intentions.
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Cleary issues word of warning for Luai | 02:22
“The fact is you are worth what someone is willing to pay you,” Read said on The Daily Telegraph NRL Podcast.
“So to say that he is not worth $1 million, well you know what when he goes to open market he will get $1 million, so that is what he is worth.
“So it is whether you get value for the pay packet that is the issue.”
Michael Carayannis revealed Luai worshipped Marshall as youngster and the Tigers are interested in bringing the three-time premiership winner to Concord.
“The Tigers have an interest,” Carayannis said.
“There are some interesting quotes from Jarome that he used to idolise Benji Marshall.
“Benji was the star player that he really looked up to.”
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Read revealed Luai and Marshall became close after playing together for the Maori All Stars.
“They know they each other, they were roommates and teammates with the Maori All Stars two or three years ago,” Read said.
“That’s when Jarome made those quotes. He said he loved Benji from the age of five when he saw Benji in the 2005 Grand Final.
“He grew up with a Tigers towel that he used to dry himself with every day. It was a heartwarming story.”
However, Carayannis believes the Bulldogs are also a chance to lure Luai to Belmore in a three-way race with the Panthers and Tigers for his services.
“The smokey is Canterbury right?” Carayannis said.
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“Given the Stephen Crichton and Cameron Ciraldo connection and their desperate search for a half.
“They are the smokey. I think they are the two clubs.”
Read agreed that there are only two clubs with a genuine chance of luring Luai away from Penrith and the Bulldogs might need him even more than the Tigers.
“I don’t think anyone else is really in with a chance of the clubs that need halves,” Read said.
“Maybe Canberra, but Canberra aren’t going to go with Jarome Luai. He just doesn’t fit their club.
“The Dragons are not interested and that’s about it really.
“Canterbury are interesting right because obviously Matt Burton has been unconvincing.
“There is a lot of people who think Matt Burton is a world class centre and not necessarily a world class No.6 or No.7, so they are in dire need of a half.”
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Carayannis believes there is a possibility Burton will start in the centres for the Bulldogs next season in a new look backline.
“Matt Burton could even start the year at centre,” Carayannis said.
“I think it could be Drew Hutchison and Toby Sexton in the halves.
“Blake Taaffe at fullback potentially with Crichton and Burton in the centres with Addo-Carr and Jacob Kiraz on the wings. One to five it is pretty potent.”
“No offence, but that is an unconvincing halves pairing,” Read added.
“But that is a strong centre pairing.”
Read warned Cleary that his comments on Luai have the potential to backfire spectacularly on the Panthers.
“The other thing about Ivan’s comments and the feedback to that is I reckon Jarome will be looking at that going, I can be the main man,” Read said.
“It could actually prompt him to leave.
“I think he would see that and go, well I can do it. If you doubt me I will go and do it somewhere else.
“That is his only choice right? Because he can’t do it at Penrith because Nathan Cleary is there and Nathan will always be the main man at Penrith.”
Carayannis agreed Luai is the type of character who might want to prove Cleary wrong and hopes he does given the ongoing rugby league theatre it would create.
“It could light the fire in him,” Carayannis said.
“The type of person and player that he is, well if you don’t think I can do it guess what? Maybe I will and I will show you I can do it.
“I kind of want him to leave because of the confidence that he has in himself and the headlines that he grabs he will wear it.
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“He wears it pretty well. He will come out and he will know that if he leaves there will be the expectation and the pressure and he will own that. He won’t shy away from it.
“And then you have got the storyline of Jarome vs Nathan and Jarome vs Ivan and I think it is tantalising.”
Read believes Cleary might have to call Luai to clear the air given he is contracted for another year at least.
“They have still got 12 months to go together, so they are going to have to smooth the waters a little bit,” Read said.
“They have obviously known each other a long time and it won’t be hard, but I would imagine there needs to be a phone call take place at some point.”
Carayannis pointed out that Luai has form with social media and knew what he was doing by posting a picture of himself captioned: “Know your worth”.
“The club have been critical of Jarome’s social media use, so he knows what he is doing,” Carayannis said.