Penrith are closing in on the biggest piece of their multi-million dollar retention puzzle yet, with co-captain Isaah Yeo expected to recommit to the club before the finals.
While champion halfback Nathan Cleary is still yet to sit down with Panthers officials or his management to discuss his future, extension talks with Yeo progressed positively this week as he rehabilitates his pectoral injury.
Multiple sources speaking on the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of negotiations expect Yeo’s future to be finalised over the last few rounds of the regular season.
The Australian, NSW Origin and four-time premiership-winning Panthers skipper ranks behind only Cleary in Penrith’s roster priorities, and has long been considered the most likely of their out-and-out stars to stay put.
The terms of Penrith’s latest offer to Yeo, 31, are unclear. But the prospect of being a one-club player with a multi-year deal holds obvious appeal to Yeo, who is on track to pass the fabled 300-game milestone next season.
In another piece of good news for the Panthers, fellow back-rower Isaiah Papalii has told the club he will take up a new deal beyond 2027.
As reported by this masthead on Wednesday, centre Paul Alamoti is also set to re-sign as he awaits scan results on a hamstring injury suffered late against the Roosters in Thursday night’s enthralling 12-6 loss.
Alamoti has already been scratched for next week’s clash against Melbourne. Left centre Izack Tago is expected to switch to the opposite side in Alamoti’s place against the Storm, with Casey McLean pushing to return from a broken hand next Thursday.
Blaize Talagi and Jack Cole are other options out wide.
The Panthers will also have greater clarity on Yeo’s recovery timeframe and chances of playing again this year as swelling continues to reduce in his pec.
The prospect of Yeo leading Penrith’s retention drive comes as the club remains comfortable with Cleary holding fire on his future.
The game’s best player had planned to address negotiations once his NSW Origin series had wrapped up, but is still yet to confirm, privately or publicly, whether he wants to re-sign before the November 1 free-agency date or test his value on the open market.
Sources close to the champion No.7 have indicated the lack of clarity does not necessarily point to an eventual exit from Penrith, nor that talks will be delayed until the end of the Panthers season.
Coach and father Ivan, who will be replaced by assistant Peter Wallace at the end of 2027, admitted this week that rival NRL clubs, including Penrith, simply cannot compete with the tax-free dollars on offer from expansion outfit PNG Chiefs.
The Chiefs have made Cleary their halfback priority after signing teammate and star winger Brian To’o at the start of the week.
Veteran prop Moses Leota, back-rower Liam Martin and Talagi are Penrith’s next most notable names coming off-contract in 2027.
Leota, who was granted a brief window to test his market value earlier this year, is prepared to re-sign for slightly less than the $900,000 his management believes he can earn elsewhere.
