Jahream Bula faces 2027 call as Luai PNG trip draws warning
Corey Parker has warned that Jarome Luai’s Papua New Guinea trip could have a big impact on what jahream bula does about his Wests Tigers future. Luai toured facilities in Papua New Guinea on Sunday, and Parker said the move sent the wrong message at a time when the Tigers are trying to keep their top names together.
“If (Jarome says he's all in), and then goes to PNG, it's not a good look,” Parker said on Channel 7's Agenda Setters: Rugby League panel. “Because the flow on effect is Jahream Bula has an option he has to trigger in the next month.”
Luai’s PNG visit
Parker called the visit a dangerous precedent for the club. He also said, “If Jarome Luai makes this decision to potentially go to the PNG Chiefs, does this have a big impact on what Bula does?”
That is the issue hanging over the Tigers now. Luai has a contract clause that gives him until April 30 to tell the club whether he plans to stay for 2027, and if he does not inform them by then he is free to explore his options.
Bula’s 2027 window
Bula has a mutual agreement with the Tigers for a 2027 extension, which places his call in the same short window as Luai’s. David Riccio said, “Yes, April 30, so this coming Thursday Jarome has to inform the West Tigers if he's taking up their option for the 2027 season.”
Riccio added, “In this same timeframe, the Chiefs have to get a deal done with him.” If Luai takes up the Tigers’ 2027 option, the Chiefs are off the table until November this year.
Tigers face a double decision
Aaron Woods said the club could lose both players if the chain reaction runs the way Parker fears. “Boys, I hope they don't lose both of them,” he said, adding that the Tigers are “moving in an upwards and onwards trajectory” and that their fan base is “unbelievable.”
He also pointed to what he sees as the risk of a star walking away, saying, “I think Jarome should go take a look at the last Tigers captain who left the club and see where his career ended up.” The Tigers now have one deadline tied to Luai and another looming for Bula, with the decisions closely linked inside the same month.
