Panthers set out Nathan Cleary retention road map
George Clarke |
Penrith are taking a relaxed approach over negotiations on new deals with a star-studded cast of possible NRL free agents that includes Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo and Liam Martin.
After coach Ivan Cleary revealed on Wednesday he would step down and be replaced by assistant Peter Wallace at the end of the 2027 season, Penrith have a road map to their future.
Chief executive Matt Cameron said Wallace would “enhance” the club’s ability to keep Nathan Cleary because of his connection with the Panthers’ playmaker.
“Nathan was quoted earlier in the year saying that he’s never been off contract, and in some ways that was misconstrued that he wanted to test the market,” Cameron said.
“That’s not what he said. Nathan as an example, clearly, he wants to focus on State of Origin, and from the club’s point of view we’re more than happy to respect that decision.”
The halfback – like Yeo, Martin, winger Brian To’o, five-eighth Blaize Talagi and hooker Mitch Kenny – is off-contract at the end of the 2027 season.
Cleary and his teammates will be free to field offers from rival clubs from November 1, while fellow co-captain Yeo has said he would be foolish not to test his value on the open market.
But Cameron, wary of the threat of the Perth Bears, who enter the NRL in 2027, and the PNG Chiefs, who join the following year, said Penrith were in no rush to lock down their big names.
“The reality of PNG with their signing (of Jarome Luai) two weeks ago probably amplified players coming off contract,” Cameron said.
Penrith have shown an ability under Ivan Cleary’s coaching to replace big-named players with ease, losing the likes of Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton, Luai, Sunia Turuva and Spencer Leniu across the past six seasons.
“We realise through either new clubs coming into the league and advantages that they have over other clubs that there may be interest out there,” Cameron said on Wednesday.
“The point I want to make is we feel this cohort has absolutely earned the right to travel their own path.
“It doesn’t mean (football manager) Shane (Elford) and I will be sitting there twiddling our thumbs.
“We’ve been meeting with these managers and we’re actively trying to get deals done, but at the end of the day if a player comes to us and says, ‘I just really want to focus on the season at the moment’, we’re going to respect that.
“Just because they go to November 1 doesn’t mean they’re leaving the club.”
AAP