The first domino has fallen in Penrith’s major roster retention battle.
On Monday, the PNG Chiefs announced the signing of star winger Brian To’o on a multi-year deal from 2028.
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No club has a list of players more glittering than the Panthers that can negotiate with rival clubs when the free agency window opens on November 1.
To’o was one of ten star Panthers who were contracted with the club until the end of next season, a list that also included Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Blaize Talagi, Isaiah Papali’i, Moses Leota, Paul Alamoti, Tom Jenkins and Mitch Kenny.
The futures of seven of those players are still in the air. To’o has signed with the Chiefs while Kenny and Jenkins have put pen-to-paper on extensions with the club.
Penrith are no strangers to losing key players each off-season. The likes of Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau, Kurt Capewell, Api Koroisau and Matt Burton have left the club during their four-peat premiership reign.
However, this is shaping up to be the most consequential period on the retention front yet.
Out of that group of ten players listed above, To’o was always considered the most likely to leave Penrith.
So, with the winger’s future at the club unable to be secured, who will Penrith turn to next in their retention battle?
Foxsports.com.au looks at the seven remaining stars yet to be signed beyond next season and how likely they’ll either stay put or leave.
The Panthers are reportedly confident they can secure the signature of the game’s best player.
But can they lock him down before November 1, at which point his head could be turned?
The PNG Chiefs, armed with tax-free contracts and the prospect of lucrative third-party deals would be hard to ignore.
“PNG will throw so much money at him. He’ll be on more than God,” Code Sports journalist Brent Read said on NRL 360 last month.
