Luai did not respond to calls and the Panthers declined to comment when contacted on Monday.

The Tigers could offer Luai more money than he is currently earning at Penrith if he wants to leave the champions before his contract is due to expire.

The Panthers have already paid Luai for two months’ service since the start of the rugby league calendar year on November 1,which would save the Tigers around $150,000.

Tension between Luai and the Panthers has been simmering in the background since comments from Cleary two months ago when he saidrival clubs would be taking a risk if they offered his playmaker more than $1 million a season to be their No.7,given his inexperience in the role.

Following Cleary’s comments,Luai seemingly took a pot shot at his coach on Instagram,posting an image to his story with the tagline “know your worth”.

At the time Penrith had offered Luai a two-year deal worth around $1.7 million,but have since increased that offer to three years for around $2.55 million.

That is nowhere near the offer on the table from the Tigers,who are on the verge of securing Luai’s services for around $1.2 million per season. The club and Luai’s management are now putting the finishing touches on the deal.

Under the new NRL rules,players are required to lodge an intention to sign a new deal with the NRL,which then notifies the incumbent club and gives it 10 days to come up with a counter offer.

The paperwork is yet to be lodged with the NRL,but the Panthers are expected to waive the 10-day period and don’t have the appetite to get into a bidding war with the Tigers. The Bulldogs,who had verbally offered Luai a five-year deal,are still monitoring the situation.

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