The Panthers have continued their busy retention drive, re-signing another representative forward to a long-term deal, while the Tigers are in the market to bolster their shaky halves stock.
Read below for all the latest NRL Transfer Whispers!
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PANTHERS RE-SIGN ANOTHER KEY PIECE
Injured forward Liam Martin is expected to sign a new deal with the Panthers, keeping him at the club until the end of the 2027 season.
According to the SMH, the Panthers are close to securing a three-year extension for the Australian and New South Wales representative.
The Panthers front office have been busy in the early half the season, with captain Isaah Yeo and underrated prop Moses Leota also putting pen to paper on new deals in the last few weeks.
In addition to Martin, Yeo and Leota, the Panthers also have star halfback Nathan Cleary and explosive winger Brian To’o signed through to the end of 2027.
With Martin locked in, it appears it will be tougher for the Panthers to keep both key spine players Dylan Edwards and Jarome Luai.
However, coach Ivan Cleary is “confident we can keep them both” despite both players likely to receive big-money offers from other clubs.
TIGERS EYE OFF TWO YOUNG GUNS
It’s likely the struggling Tigers will be looking to upgrade a number of positions with a restock in the halves to surprise no one on the back of Adam Doueihi’s third ACL injury and the continued struggles of Luke Brooks, who is out of contract after this season.
Manly five-eighth Josh Schuster is one that is firmly in the Tigers’ sights, as per The Daily Telegraph.
The 21-year-old has missed the last three games due to a quadriceps injury, but ironically is due to return in Manly’s Round 8 clash against the Tigers on Sunday.
A good performance from Schuster on Sunday will no doubt increase his value to the Tigers, who only have one halfback or five-eighth on their current squad contracted beyond this season.
Schuster is contracted until the end of 2024, with no formal offers allowed to be fielded from other clubs until November 1.
Another rising star linked to the Tigers is the Dragons Talatau ‘Junior’ Amone, who like Schuster, is contracted until the end of next season.
Amone has mixed his form in three starts for the Dragons this year, with the club going 1-2 in those.
