Toa Samoa star Jarome Luai to join Parramatta Eels in 2027 before PNG Chiefs move

Jarome Luai's journey to the PNG Chiefs will include one final stop, with the Parramatta Eels confirming the Toa Samoa star will join the club for the 2027 NRL season before heading to Papua New Guinea for the Chiefs' inaugural campaign in 2028.

The announcement comes after the Wests Tigers confirmed Luai would leave the club at the end of the 2026 season, despite originally being contracted until the end of 2027.

It marks another major twist in one of the biggest player movements of the year. Earlier this season, Luai was unveiled as the PNG Chiefs' inaugural signing, becoming Player #001 and committing to the new franchise from 2028, with an option to remain until the end of 2030.

Instead of spending 2027 at the Tigers, the Toa Samoa playmaker will reunite with Mitchell Moses at Parramatta for a one-year stint before beginning the next chapter of his career in Papua New Guinea.

Parramatta General Manager of Football Mark O'Neill said Luai's arrival would provide an immediate boost both on and off the field.

"Jarome is one of the most experienced and successful players of his generation, and we're thrilled to welcome him to the Parramatta Eels next year," O'Neill said.

"His competitive nature, football intelligence and ability to perform under pressure make him a significant addition to our squad."

The Toa Samoa representative leaves the Tigers after just two seasons, with the decision to end his deal early reached by mutual agreement following discussions between the club, the player and his management.

While speculation emerged that tensions between Luai and coach Benji Marshall played a role in the move, Marshall strongly rejected those claims.

"I don't mean this to anyone personally in here, but what the media have done is made some stuff up that me and him have a fractured relationship, which is far from the truth," Marshall said.

"We're close."

Marshall explained the decision was about the club's long-term future, with the Tigers looking to invest in young halves including Latu Fainu and Javon Andrews.

"No-one's saying that Jarome is not good. No-one's saying that he's bad for the team or we don't love him. We love what he brings," Marshall said.

"But moving forward, we're prioritising guys that are probably going to be here for the next 10 years, not for the next 12 months."

Despite his impending departure, Marshall confirmed Luai will remain the club's first-choice five-eighth for the remainder of the 2026 season.

The move is also viewed as a significant win for Parramatta, with reports suggesting the Tigers will contribute a substantial portion of Luai's 2027 salary, allowing the Eels to secure one of the game's elite playmakers for considerably less than his full contract value.

For Parramatta, the arrival of the Toa Samoa star reunites one of rugby league's most dangerous halves combinations, with Luai and Mitchell Moses expected to steer the Eels in their bid to return to finals football.

For Pacific rugby league fans, however, the bigger picture remains unchanged.

When the 2027 season concludes, Luai will head north to become the face of the PNG Chiefs as they enter the NRL in 2028.

His signing was a landmark moment for the expansion club, which described the Toa Samoa international as the perfect player to build its identity around.

At the time of announcing Luai as the club's inaugural signing, PNG Chiefs General Manager of Football Michael Chammas said the playmaker represented everything the club wanted to stand for.

"Jarome is a world-class player and a proven winner," Chammas said.

"He embodies the style, passion and competitiveness we want our team to represent.

"Jarome is a proud Pacific Islander, and his cultural values, community, family, humility and pride in where you come from, are exactly the values this club will be built on."

Chiefs CEO Lorna McPherson said Luai's commitment sent a powerful message about the club's ambitions.

"We now have Player 001 and we're ready to build out the strongest list in the competition," she said.

For now, the Toa Samoa playmaker remains focused on finishing strongly with the Tigers before pulling on the blue and gold of Parramatta in 2027.

But with the countdown to the PNG Chiefs already underway, every step from here brings the Toa Samoa star closer to leading rugby league's newest franchise into its historic inaugural season.