Teammates are optimistic: “He’s training very well.” Luai will return after shoulder surgery during the World Club Challenge.
Panthers player Jarome Luai hopes to play in next month’s World Club Challenge against Wigan despite having shoulder surgery in October.
Luai departed the grand final win over the Broncos in the second half with a shoulder injury and underwent surgery shortly after.
Luai’s name has been in the news a lot this offseason, with the polarising playmaker set to join the Tigers on a five-year contract beginning in 2025.
Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards said Luai is “training very well” and wishes his teammates a successful final season with the club.
“I’m not sure of the exact timeline, but he is training well, doing a lot of rehab, and working really hard, so he is going to give himself every chance,” Edwards told The Daily Telegraph during a Panthers fan day on Saturday.
“We would like to send him off on a positive manner. He is still one of our brothers, and he will compete as hard as he can this year, with the intention of sending him off as a winner.
The Panthers are no strangers to watching teammates leave for other teams, as Penrith’s success means they frequently fall
Sunia Turuva, last year’s Rookie of the Year, understands Luai’s decision and feels the five-eighth’s upcoming departure will have no affect on the club as they strive for their fourth consecutive premiership.
“He has continued to be his noisy self and a problem. “I haven’t noticed anything different from Jarome this year,” Turuva added.
“The boys would love that for him, we just gotta try and make sure we finish on a good note for him, like we did for Spenny (Spencer Leniu), Critta (Stephen Crichton) and Cogs (Jack Cogger).”
