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, Kurt Capewell, Matt Burton and 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 break down the seven remaining stars yet to be signed beyond next season and how likely they’ll stay put or leave.
How soon will PNG Chiefs be contenders? | 01:55
NATHAN CLEARY
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 NRL360 last month.
Then there’s the chance to reunite with his former running mate Jarome Luai.
If money is all Cleary is after, the Chiefs would be considered the red-hot favourites, but it’s not the only important factor for the superstar halfback.
What is worth noting though is Ivan Cleary’s impending departure. Will his dad’s exit play a part in Nathan’s decision?
The expectation all along was that Cleary would hit the open market on November 1. He’s expressed as much publicly.
However despite Ivan’s call to leave the Panthers at the end of next season, Penrith are quietly confident they’ll be able to retain their two best players in Cleary and Isaah Yeo
“The Origin boys are the next targets, Read said.
“They want to work through Yeo, Cleary and Liam Martin now that Origin is over.
“Panthers are confident that he can convince these guys to stay. They know that they’re going to lose some.”
“It’s going to turn heads, but the Panthers are quietly confident,” Carayannis added.
“They weren’t as confident two months ago, but it’s like the narrative there has changed that they’re going to get most of these guys done.”
Warriors overcome Penrith in Auckland | 02:59
ISAAH YEO
Like Cleary, Yeo has also expressed a desire to test his value from November 1, although his preference seems to be to remain a one-club man.
The superstar lock, who could miss the rest of the regular season with a pec injury, says he expects several of his off-contract teammates to see what’s out there.
Back in late April, just after Luai shocked the NRL world by signing with the Chiefs, Yeo made an interesting comment.
“I’m off contract with a lot of the boys here. You are going to have to be open minded at the end of the year,” he said
“It’s hard because you are waiting for dominoes to fall, and that’s probably Ivan and Nathan (Cleary) to go.”
With Penrith working overtime behind the scenes to lock down their best two players, it’d be a shock if Yeo signs elsewhere.
Matty backs Penrith despite Yeo injury | 00:34
LIAM MARTIN
The hard-hitting back rower was crucial to the Blues’ Game III win this season and has again enjoyed a decent season at club land.
If Martin were to leave, he’d be a difficult player to replace.
So tenacious, he plays with such an edge which lifts his teammates and has helped turn Penrith into the powerhouse they are today.
Martin wants to remain and reports suggest the club will lock Martin down in the not too distant future.
“I’ve been here for 10 years now. I’ve got a little boy here. I love it here. I love this club. I would love to stay, but you never know. We have to see what happens,” Martin said.
PAUL ALAMOTI
He might not get the plaufits of Cleary, Yeo and Martin are, but if Penrith were smart, they’d make sure they lock Alamoti up long-term.
The powerful centre plays well above his age. At 22 his best footy is ahead of him.
Alamoti has already clocked 74 games so boasts plenty of experience given his young age.
According to Code Sports, Penrith and Alamoti aren’t far away on a new extension.
If they’re able to lock Alamoti down, that’ll give Penrith one of the best centre duos (with Casey McLean) in the NRL for the next several seasons.
ISAIAH PAPALI’I
A former Dally M second rower of the year, Papali’i is enjoying another steady season for the Panthers.
With a number of forwards leaving in the off-season, including Scott Sorensen and Liam Henry to the Bears and rising star Toby Crosby to the Super League, extending Papali’i becomes that much more important for the Panthers.
It’s likely he is offered more from rival clubs if he tests his value, but given he wasn’t able to win a premiership in his first season at Penrith in 2025, Papali’i cpould feel there is unfinished business at the Panthers.
MOSES LEOTA
Outside of To’o, Leota has appeared to be the most likely to depart the club.
The 31-year-old’s Leota’s preference is to remain at the foot of the mountains but his asking price is steep, a reported $2.5 million.
As a result he has been given permission to negotiate with rivals.
Canberra, Gold Coast, Parramatta and the Roosters are among those linked to the forward. His manager claims there are as many as a dozen clubs in the race.
And the decision, whether to stay or go, could come down to his teammates.
“It’s a tough situation for Penrith because they have so many players in demand and Moses understands that,” Leota’s manager Gavin Orr told Wide World of Sports.
“We reported to them the interest from at least six clubs with the Raiders, Eels, Titans and Roosters leading the way, but we have to wait until they see what Cleary and Yeo are doing and how much money they have in the cap.
“They want to keep him and he wants to stay, but it all comes down to the cap.”
BLAIZE TALAGI
Talagi is arguably the biggest free agent signing Penrith have made in recent seasons.
Signed with the vision to be the halves partner of Nathan Cleary for the next ten years, Talagi’s career at the club is in limbo.
Ivan Cleary dropped him to reserve grade citing defensive deficiencies, and replaced by Jack Cogger.
What’s interesting is that Cogger is under contract until the end of 2028. It’s led to speculation over Talagi’s future.
According to journalist Brent Read, the Panthers may find it hard to keep Talagi.
“I think if Talagi gets to Nov 1, I think they’ll (Penrith) struggle to compete (with rival clubs),” Read said on NRL360.
“There would be teams keen I would imagine. I think of Parramatta. He’s a former Eels junior and player … If you’re the Eels, I’d have a red-hot lash.”
Whether the Panthers retain Talagi or let him walk will also depend on what Cleary does.
But if the Panthers don’t play these next couple of months right on the retention front, they could be facing a halves chasm.
“The other point is that if Nathan doesn’t stay and they let go of Talagi, they’re in some trouble. It could give us an indication where they’re at with Nathan by what they do with Blaize,” NRL360 host Braith Anasta said.
THE FUTURE OF THE CLUB
Charlie Xuereb – Contracted until the end of 2028, Xuereb shunned interest from rugby union to remain at the Panthers at the start of the year and is one of the brightest prospects in his age group. The 2026 Australian Schoolboy plays as a lock, where he is known for his defence and ball-playing ability.
Cordell Arama – Another member of the 2026 Australian Schoolboys squad, Arama recently extended with the Panthers until the end of 2029 and was one of the best performers in this year’s Harold Matthews Cup. The front-rower is solid defence but is more known for his ball-running in attack where he steamrolls defenders with ease.
Ellyjah Birve – An Under-19s QLD Maroons and Junior Kumuls representative, Birve has been earmarked as Nathan Cleary’s future successor in the No. 7 jersey. Growing up in Queensland, he is a naturally gifted attacker and can create something out of nothing with the ball in his hands, as evidenced by the recent SG Ball Cup season.
Haami Loza – Poached by the club from the Knights, the rising playmaker has been a regular for the side’s Under-21s outfit and also forced his way into NSW Cup on three occasions this year, where he has scored two tries and provided four try assists.
Hokafonu Lemoto – A member of last year’s Under-19s NSW Blues squad, Lemoto is a mobile and hardworking front-rower who loves the physicality of rugby league. Earmarked as a piece of the club’s next generation of forwards, he is the brother of top rugby union prospect Heinz Lemoto who has been touted as a future Wallabies player.
Tua Patea – A centre who can also play in the forward or halves if needed, Patea has already racked up an impressive highlight reel and is known for his aggressive defence and great footwork and step in attack. Moving to the club’s Top 30 roster in 2027, he is the brother of forward Luron Patea.
Zakauri Clarke – The brother of Storm rookie Cooper Clarke, Zakauri has been tipped as the next Penrith player to make his NRL debut. Recently extended until 2028 – where he will join the Top 30 in 2027 – the goalkicking back-rower has been a consistent performer in NSW Cup with 495 tackles and 1875 run metres.
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