Mitch Kenny and Liam Martin are both considering moves to the NRL’s new Papua New Guinea team, meaning Penrith’s incredible star factory will be required to start churning out a new batch of players.
The Panthers have 13 players who will become free agents on November 1, including co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, while rising star and try-scoring machine Tom Jenkins does not have a deal for next year.
They might be red-hot favourites to win the 2026 title, but right now, Panthers chief Matt Cameron has a bigger job than coach Ivan Cleary, who is also off contract at the end of 2027.
The list of Panthers players who can speak to rivals from November 1 includes Cleary, Yeo, Kenny, Martin, Blaize Talagi, Brian To’o, Moses Leota, Paul Alamoti, Isaiah Papali’i, Luron Patea, Billy Phillips, Billy Scott and Sione Fonua.
Kenny has shown that he thinks differently to most NRL players and his broader interests in life, such as birdwatching, have positioned him as a potential star signing for PNG. He has the qualities to be a leader for the newest NRL side.
Also of note, he has linked with a new management group, SFX, which looks after the Clearys. SFX also has Yeo on its books.
Martin has a real interest in the idea of playing for the Chiefs.
Another big danger for Penrith could be the Roosters when it comes to Martin. Chooks recruitment manager Joel Carbone is a huge Martin fan. He would take the recruitment of Martin as a big personal victory, as he has long admired what the Blues and Australian hard man can do.
The Roosters do have some gun young forwards but will lose Angus Crichton after this season to rugby union, and they may need a hard head in the back row to complement what they have.
Nathan Cleary is considered a long shot to leave Penrith. I recently asked him about how he is going to handle the attention that comes with being on the open market, and he conceded that media questioning may lead him to fast-track his decision.
That was obviously welcomed by Panthers officials, who would love to finalise that deal so they can juggle the rest of their salary cap.
The form player off contract for next year is definitely Jenkins. “The Milk Man” has worked his butt off and his try-scoring feats are catching the eye.
No question he wants to stay at the Panthers, but there will be considerable interest.
Sea Eagles defend Foran deal
The Sea Eagles are staying quiet about interim coach Kieran Foran being assisted financially by a private benefactor, insisting he is about to be offered a new and improved deal by the club.
Throughout his career Foran has been assisted by at least two benefactors who championed his career.
Manly won’t discuss any arrangement Foran has, but they say he will be given an upgraded deal due to his new role and because he is no longer working as an analyst with Fox Sports.
Foran is believed to be on $150,000 with Manly, and he was on about $200,000 with Fox. Anything less than a $400,000 pay rise would be cheap from a club that has come under fire for being stingy.
Manly say Foran’s arrangement is consistent with NRL rules.
“The club does not comment on or disclose confidential information about employment arrangements,” chief executive Jason King said. “This is standard practice across professional sport and the broader business community.
“Any suggestion that the club is acting improperly or inconsistent with the NRL rules is simply incorrect.”
King is sick of the attacks on his club about spending. This columnist put a number of questions to King, including the support for Foran and his contract. I gave King the name of the fan providing help to Foran out of respect to his standing at Manly.
I asked King the following: Is your strength and conditioning coach doubling as a forwards coach? Do you have a separate head of pathways and general manager of football? Has team security been told they can only travel to games on game day? Is it right you are only spending $2 million on pathways? Have you only signed three players for the NSW Cup team? Does the club have a back-of-jersey sponsor? If not, why not?
King respectfully considered every question and said: “It’s not feasible or appropriate to analyse the club’s budget on a line-by-line basis. I can assure you that there are no concerns as to the club’s financial viability.
“We continue to fund our NRL football program to the levels permitted under both the salary cap and the football department cap, reflecting a strong and ongoing commitment to on-field performance.
“As with any professional sporting organisation, we regularly review the allocation of our resources to ensure we are best positioned to achieve our objectives. This is disciplined, responsible management, and is exactly what our corporate partners, members and fans rightly expect.”
I have been told that the club’s head of performance, Jon Clarke, has been provided with additional responsibilities, commencing in the 2026 pre-season. He has a team of performance staff below him.
The club employs a head of recruitment and elite pathways and a head of recruitment and football. They work closely together, with one primarily responsible for pathways and emerging players, and the other focused on the top-30 NRL squad and development list recruitment.
When it comes to the team not having security on trips until game day, Manly believe they implement appropriate measures to mitigate risks and protect their people. They say security guards will be engaged on a needs basis.
The club defends its pathways spending being less than most other clubs because it says there is an arms race in junior development, primarily fuelled by wealthy leagues clubs. The Sea Eagles do not have that luxury.
When it comes to skimping on the NSW Cup team, they think they have sufficient players eligible to compete.
Also, the club is in the market for a top back of jersey partner.
Gentle nudge out the door
Next in line out the door will be the Sea Eagles’ recruitment boss and general manager Peter Gentle. He has an obvious tie to sacked coach Anthony Seibold, and that era is now over. He is capable and will get a different role at another club.
General manager of Manly is a huge opportunity, but one that Frank Ponissi has no interest in. One phone call to the Storm boss would have been enough to end the speculation from the Manly board.
It was suggested by News Corp that Ponissi should leave Melbourne to create a legacy for himself so he can move out of the shadows of Craig Bellamy and their superstar players.
First, Ponissi is already an out-and-out legend of the Storm. He doesn’t need a statue to commemorate what he has done. Anyone who knows him will tell you that he is humble and happy to always work for the betterment of his club not himself.
NRL ramps up Super League bid
The NRL’s push to take over the UK-based Super League is about to go to another level.
NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo is heading to the UK to make it happen. The offer won’t be astronomical, but it will involve covering the teams’ salary caps and evening out the playing talent.
The NRL will need someone to run its interests over there. Blake Solly has formerly worked in the UK, but he is working in a job he loves as South Sydney chief executive.
There are two reasons the NRL wants to take over the competition: one is to make sure the game is run better and survives; the other is to get subscribers for its NRL game pass. The NRL believes there is a potential million new subscribers for its app in the UK and Europe.
The NRL would also use it as part of its TV rights negotiations, as it would allow it to offer a world-wide deal.
Madge gives Gordie the silent treatment
Gorden Tallis and the target of much of his vitriol, Broncos coach Michael Maguire, ran into each other in their travels last week. Stares were exchanged, but nothing was said.
After copping it from Tallis for months, Maguire did well not to give Tallis a bit back. But there is no upside other than personal satisfaction in doing that.
Keary could fill Foran’s boots at Fox
Luke Keary has made a splash in his first year in the media.
Interesting, well-spoken and not afraid to say it as he sees it, Keary is now being looked at to replace Kieran Foran at Fox.
Foran has made coaching his priority but could walk back into media if things don’t work out.
Rivals set to circle McEwen
Jermaine McEwen is shaping as one to watch on the NRL market, with several clubs keeping tabs on his situation.
Newcastle’s push to land Marata Niukore could have a flow-on effect, potentially placing promising young Knight McEwen in the shop window. Should the deal with Niukore get done, McEwen may suddenly become one of the more intriguing young names available.
Staggs won’t walk out on Broncos
Rumours about Kotoni Staggs wanting a change of scenery have been floating around. We have been told it started because Staggs is dating the daughter of Warriors media manager Richard Becht. Staggs’ agent, Isaac Moses, says there is nothing to it.
NRL allays fuel crisis fears
The NRL has been making plans to cope with any impact the fuel crisis may have on the competition. The most significant assurance it has received has come from Qantas, which says it will be able to keep the teams moving around the country.
The NRL says it has to absorb additional costs as it pays more for travel and accommodation.
“Naturally we are monitoring the situation,” ARL Commission chairman Peter V’landys said. “We pick up the travel and accommodation expenses for teams, so we are absorbing any additional cost in that regard.
“Additional costs we are facing are a fraction compared to additional expenses we incurred during COVID. We have also been assured by our travel providers that they will be able to continue to service us.”
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
