Nathan Cleary has broken his silence about Penrith’s three-time premiership-winning five-eighth and good friend Jarome Luai’s decision to leave the club.
Luai signed an estimated $6 million five-year contract to join the Wests Tigers from 2025, bringing an end to the biggest trade saga of the NRL off-season.
The 27-year-old, who forged a lethal combination with Cleary at club and rep level, couldn’t ignore the extra money on offer at the Tigers playing under his boyhood idol Benji Marshall.
I’ve played alongside ‘Romy’ my whole Penrith career, since we were 15 years old, which makes it even tougher,’ Cleary told Sydney Morning Herald.
‘It’s sad. It’s also a business, and he needs to look after his beautiful young family
He had so many people in his ear asking him what he was going to do, so I didn’t want to be that guy asking.
‘He’s also at that stage of his career where he can make decisions for himself. We all found out at the same time that he was leaving.
‘I never could have pictured Romy in another jersey. Now he’s secured his future, we can focus on this year and try to make it special … it’s my last ride with him.’
Cleary has watched some huge names forced out of the club due to the Panthers’ success and salary cap restrictions.
‘It’s a fair squad we’ve lost over the years now,’ he said.
‘I’ve played the longest with Romy, we’re in the halves together, so that makes it tougher. He really represents what we’re about as a team, and he’s from the area.
‘The more players leave, the more you become accustomed to it.
‘I feel I’m at the age and the stage of my career where I’m ready to actually help a young guy and build a combination.
‘I’ll have to go to another level in terms of leadership and helping the young guys out.’
