Penrith forward Liam Martin will ask the Panthers to make him a million-dollar player, which will have other clubs taking notice as the market heats up later in the year.
Martin told Penrith they needed to agree on contract extension next week or he’d put himself on the open market from November 1.
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Martin, who has won four premierships at Penrith and played 15 State of Origin matches for NSW, will no doubt test his club’s strict salary cap management.
“What do we think of that price?” NRL 360 host Braith Anasta asked the panel on Wednesday night.
“That’s a big decision for Penrith to make because they prioritise some other guys. Obviously they want to try and get Nathan Cleary done,” journalist Brent Read said.
“A million dollars, that’s going to put a real strain on their salary cap.”
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Fellow reporter Michael Carayannis said $1 million a season was “at the top end” for a guy like Martin who isn’t a spine player and hasn’t quite been in the sort of form to demand such a lucrative contract.
“He was awesome for NSW and in Game III when he came back, but he hasn’t been able to reach those heights consistently this year,” Carayannis said.
Former champion second rower Gorden Tallis thinks Martin either pulls back on his demands or will have to find another club.
“I just don’t think Penrith can afford that. Maybe he’s forcing their hand,” Tallis suggested.
“Maybe he’s giving them a deadline. It’s like, ‘listen, let’s not stuff around. This is what I want. If you guys can’t give it to me, that’s okay, I love you. We’ve worked well together’,” Anasta added.
If Penrith doesn’t agree to pay Martin $1 million a season, Read believes a fellow western Sydney club will come knocking.
