KIERSTEN DUKE: Jarome Luai brings a lot to a club as he is set to join Parramatta Eels for 2027 NRL season

Jarome Luai’s decision to sign with Parramatta for the 2027 season is about far more than filling a position in the halves for the Eels.

It’s about importing one of the game’s strongest competitors, one of it’s loudest voices and one of its most influential cultural drivers.

Yes, the Eels are getting a four-time premiership winner, not to mention Luai’s elite running ability, unmatched competitive streak and a combination with Mitchell Moses waiting to be formed. But the biggest win for coach Jason Ryles may not be what Luai produces on the field. It may be what he creates between Monday and Friday.

Professional sporting clubs are built on standards. High standards. They are built on players who refuse to accept mediocrity and who demand accountability from everyone around them.

Luai has spent his entire career inside one of the greatest winning systems the NRL has ever seen at Penrith. Those habits don’t disappear simply because you change jerseys. We saw evidence of that during his time at the Wests Tigers.

Results didn’t always follow consistently, but that’s not the same as saying the influence wasn’t there.

The only downside? It does take away a little of the excitement surrounding his eventual arrival in Papua New Guinea.

When Luai arrived at Concord, he immediately embraced a leadership role. He took the responsibility of becoming co-captain in his stride, mentored young halves, drove training standards and consistently challenged teammates to think like winners rather than simply hoping to become one.

The Tigers had a stellar start to this season, but even as they endured a tricky mid-season campaign, club officials and coach Benji Marshall repeatedly praised Luai’s professionalism and commitment to building the right environment.

Changing culture is never an overnight process. The Tigers were attempting to reverse a decade of instability. No single player, not even someone with Luai’s credentials, was ever going to fix that in two seasons.

But there were clear signs that his influence extended beyond the scoreboard. Young players were exposed to the preparation and relentless standards that helped deliver four straight premierships at Penrith. Those lessons have lasting value even if they don’t immediately translate into finals football.

That’s exactly why Parramatta should be so excited.

The Eels already possess genuine strike through Mitchell Moses, Josh Addo-Carr and an emerging young roster. What they’ve lacked at times is another dominant personality. Luai brings infectious energy, belief and it’s hard not to speak about him without mentioning his undeniable swagger.

That’s contagious.

It’s also why this isn’t simply a one year rental.

Some critics will dismiss the move because Luai will join the new Papua New Guinea franchise in 2028. But one season is plenty of time to leave a mark when you’re the right type of leader.

Granted, he won’t single-handedly change everything, but he will be a positive step in the right direction. Parramatta isn’t just buying 27 rounds of football. It’s buying experience, professionalism and a winning mentality that younger players can absorb long after Luai has moved on.

The only downside?

It does take away a little of the excitement surrounding his eventual arrival in Papua New Guinea.

Luai always felt like the perfect marquee player to launch rugby league’s newest frontier. Becoming the face of an expansion club carried enormous excitement. Watching him spend a season in blue and gold before heading overseas slightly dulls that sense of occasion.

But if Parramatta receive the version of Luai that Penrith enjoyed for years and the version that worked tirelessly to establish higher standards at the Tigers, the Eels may discover that culture can be just as valuable as class.

When you can sign a player who delivers both, you don’t hesitate.