Jarome Luai has declared he wants to grow a nation after confirming he will leave Wests Tigers to take up a tax-free contact and become the face of the PNG Chiefs in 2028.

Luai has signed a two-year deal with the Chiefs, which includes an option in his favour for a third year.

The playmaker and his family flew to Port Moresby on a private jet over the weekend, where he was wooed by the country’s Prime Minister James Marape.

Upon his return, the Samoan international indicated to the Tigers his eagerness to join the Chiefs as a foundation player for their maiden campaign in 2028.

“I think everyone wants me to say (I did it for) tax free (salary) and how appealing that is from the outside in,” Luai said on Wednesday morning.

“But that’s not what got the deal signed.

“Being over there you sort of realise it’s bigger than a game over there. When the time comes we’ll be able to change a lot of lives for the better.

“It was a great experience. My family and my son got the chance to come with (me). Being there after all of that that’s probably what got it sealed.

“It’s probably more a vision, something that I resonated with. Being Polynesian there’s a lot of similarities to Samoa and things like that. What that team’s eventually going to do for a lot of people is grow a nation. That process resonated with me.”

Luai is permitted to leave the Tigers because of the clauses he was given in his five-year deal.

The five-eighth is in the second season of that contract — which permitted the playmaker to activate an option to stay or leave after years three, four and five.

Luai, 29, has told the Tigers he will take up his option to stay at Concord on a $1.2 million a season deal in 2027, but has indicated he will then move to the Chiefs for their first campaign.

“I’m here for 18 months, and wherever I am right now, I’m going to give my all to the team, to my brothers, to what we’ve built here,” Luai said.

“This place will be a great place to be and play at when the time comes to leave.”

Luai’s salary will be completely tax-free and his signing represents a major coup for the Chiefs.

The start-up club’s entry into the NRL was met with concern over their ability to lure top-level talent, given Papua New Guinea’s security issues.

Asked how important it was to assure his family of their safety in PNG, Luai said: “It was important, that’s why they came with me.”

“That’s probably what got it sealed for us, they had a good experience just as I did,” he said.

“(Safety) was all there. It’s all in the process as well of being completed. But there’s a vision and there’s some really good people behind all of that. It’s going to work and it’s going to be real.”

While Luai’s exit could dampen the mood at the Tigers, coach Benji Marshall is looking on the bright side.

“He’s still with us for the next 18 months and the role he plays in that journey continues,” he said in a statement.

“We’re all looking forward to having him with us during that time.

“Jarome’s a quality human being who is widely respected across our club. I know how difficult this has been for him, but he’s put his family first and we respect his decision.”

Speaking to the media after Luai, Marshall praised the star halfback for his transparency and honesty.

“I had a guy in my office who was a bit broken down and emotional about making the decision that clearly wasn’t just about himself.

“His family, and an opportunity that was simply too good to refuse for him.

“You can create whatever narrative you want around what’s happened. If you want to make it negative you can make it negative. If you want to make it positive you can — for all the parties.

“In our case we’re only going to make it positive because we’ve got a guy who I begged to come from a four-time premiership-winning team to help a club off the bottom of the table progress into a better position.

“He took that challenge with us. He’s 18 months into that deal and what he’s done in 18 months has only been positive and we get to make it positive for the next 18 months to actually get some more out of him before he takes that opportunity.

“There’s nothing but gratitude from me for what he’s done for our club so far and what he’ll continue to do for 18 months. I’m looking forward to seeing what does in that 18 months.

“And on the flipside in 2028 we get an injection in our salary cap that gives us a good opportunity to try and keep some of the players we’ve got.”

Marshall said he took his ‘coach hat’ off with Luai and put his “dad, friend, son hat on and can sympathise and resonate with what he’s trying to do there”.

“I’ve got no ill feelings towards what he’s done or what he’s decided to do,” he said.

“And my message for our fans is let’s celebrate what he’s done so far.”