“It’s Sad,” Cleary shares the emotional impact of the star player’s move to the Tigers.

Nathan Cleary has opened up about the emotional impact he’s facing with the departure of his longstanding halves partner, Jarome Luai, who joined the Tigers in 2025 on a five-year deal. Cleary conveyed his feelings of sadness regarding Luai’s choice to leave the club, underscoring the heightened difficulty due to their shared history of playing together since they were 15 years old. Nevertheless, despite the challenges, Cleary maintains hope for the possibility of chasing one last premiership alongside his cherished partner in crime.

Nathan Cleary expressed his sentiments, stating, “It’s a melancholy situation. At the same time, it’s a business, and he has to prioritize the well-being of his beautiful young family. With numerous people offering their opinions, I didn’t want to be another person pressuring him to make a decision.”

Cleary acknowledged that Luai is now at a stage in his career where he can independently make choices. The news of Luai’s departure came as a surprise to everyone, and Cleary refrained from being intrusive during the decision-making process.

Reflecting on the unexpected turn of events, Cleary remarked, “I could never have envisioned Romy wearing another team’s jersey. Now that he has secured his future, our focus is on making this year special. It marks the culmination of our time together; it’s my last journey with him.”