The premiership defence was a success but now the next challenge for the Panthers is keeping their title-winning squad together.
Liam Martin, Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o are all off-contract after 2023 and with the November 1 deadline looming, Penrith will be desperate to pounce before rival clubs.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the Panthers are already closing in on a three-year extension for Martin, who is said to be much closer to a deal than Crichton and To’o.
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The Herald reported the Panthers are looking to ramp up negotiations with both Crichton and To’o’s management at the end of this week.
It will also be worth monitoring the future of prop Spencer Leniu and winger Charlie Staines, both of which may look elsewhere for more opportunities in the NRL.
Leniu has been heavily linked to both the Dragons and Tigers, where he may be more likely to get a starting spot, currently stuck behind James Fisher-Harris and Moses Leota.
Staines, meanwhile, is reportedly being considered in a swap deal with the Tigers for former Panthers utility Tyrone Peachey.
Jaeman Salmon is the only member of this year’s premiership-winning 17 without a contract for next season but that could be about to change.
Salmon told foxsports.com.au after the grand final that there “is a contract on the table” with Penrith and that both he and his manager are sorting it out, with the preference being to stay put.
It is a tricky situation for the Panthers to be in, now seeing the unfortunate consequences of their success, although Mitch Kenny believes the core group won’t be “rushing away”.
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“The club is in a position now, where guys recognise what we have here and want to stay together,” Kenny said to foxsports.com.au before the grand final.
“It speaks to how tight-knit the group is as well, a lot of these local guys, who probably want to repay the club as well for developing them and making them the first graders they are today.
“It would take a bit for a lot of these guys to leave because they are the players they are because of the teammates they have and the coaches they have.
“They don’t want to be rushing away from here and it is a great culture, and everyone wants to be a part of it for as long as they can.”
DOLPHINS SCORE ‘HUGE KILL’ AS NEXT SIGNING PRIORITY REVEALED
The Dolphins are set to announce the signing of Cowboys speedster Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow by the end of the week in a big boost for the new franchise.
That is according to rugby league reporter Ben Dobbin, who revealed on Triple M’s Rush Hour with Leisel, Liam and Dobbothat the “deal is done”.
“I can confirm it 100 per cent, the Hammer is coming to the Dolphins,” Dobbin said.
“Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is going to be coming as a fullback to the Dolphins. He is just waiting on a release from the Cowboys. The deal is done.
“They can deny it all they want, my understanding is that the deal is 100 per cent done. It’s a huge kill for the Dolphins, a massive one.”
Tabuai-Fidow had started the year at fullback for North Queensland before suffering an injury which saw Scott Drinkwater take his place and the 25-year-old took the opportunity with both hands.
Drinkwater was so impressive that Tabuai-Fidow simply could not get his spot back when he returned from injury, instead settling for a bench utility role.
Tabuai-Fidow is contracted until the end of next season but Dobbin believes North Queensland will grant him a release to join the Dolphins on a multi-year deal.
“This is off the back of him being injured and Scott Drinkwater playing so well and Murray Taulagi now playing for Australia,” Dobbin added.
“This is circumstantial. He’s an out-and-out baller, a great pick-up for the Dolphins.”
Dobbin also revealed that the centre position is now a point of focus for Wayne Bennett, who has started to assemble a solid squad ahead of the Dolphins’ inaugural season.
“Centres is where they are working on now,” he said.
“They’ve got a premiership-winning forward pack, they’ve got a really good fullback, they got some great outside backs.
“Young Isaiya Katoa is an absolute superstar from Penrith. Sean O’Sullivan, who played a lot of first grade this year, has shown he can do something.”
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Of course, the Dolphins are also still hopeful of landing their biggest name yet in Melbourne five-eighth Cameron Munster.
Dobbin talked to the Dolphins about Munster’s contract situation and it does not seem any clear as to when he will make a final call.
“They said he’s toing and froing, toing and froing and toing and froing,” Dobbin said.
“In two days he goes on a Kangaroo tour. November 1 is the deadline. Melbourne are throwing the cars and the house and the lot at him, everything they can throw at him. He’s just got to make a decision.”
