West Tigers Chairman Lee Hagipantelis has opened up on his club’s public pursuit of Penrith Panthers’ star Jarome Luai.
Arguably the hottest free agent in the NRL, Luai has been heavily chased by both the Tigers and Bulldogs, with both clubs reportedly ready to cough up in excess of a million dollars per season for the star playmaker.
Tigers coach Benji Marshall has been very vocal in his desire to recruit Luai in recent days, which coincides with reports he invited the Samoan international to his home to discuss an offer.
On the back of two consecutive wooden spoons, the Tigers are desperate for additional star power in a bid to end the club’s decade-long finals drought and could have an answer for that with Luai.
“All of those recruitment and retention discussions have to be held in-house, all I can do is reiterate what Benji said publicly,” Hagipantelis told SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Jarome is a quality marquee player, when these sorts of players become available on the market it would be remiss of any organisation not to look at the opportunity.
“You can assume that the opportunity has been looked at.
“As to where it goes or what happens, that’s a matter for others, well above my pay grade.”
The Tigers have made an abundance of roster changes over the last two seasons, welcoming in Api Koroisau and Isaiah Papali’i, whilst showing the door to club stalwarts like Luke Brooks.
“We have a list management committee and a senior head coach who is very well attuned to these things, they’ll take care of all the recruitment and retention decisions,” Hagipantelis added.
“I couldn’t be happier or more impressed with the way they’re managing that roster at the moment, I’ll leave it at that.”
Luai has reportedly told Panthers officials he plans to make a decision on his next contract before he is due back for training on December 6.