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As expected, Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary has signed a five-year extension to remain at the foot of the mountains.
His new deal will keep Cleary at Penrith until the end of 2024.
Cleary has played 58 first grade games for the Panthers, and 3 Origins for New South Wales.
Storm skipper Cameron Smith has hinted at his potential retirement… if the Storm were to win the Grand Final.
The Storm are confident that five-eighth Cameron Munster will remain in Melbourne, with Storm boss Dave Donaghy saying that Munster has told them “he wants to stay“.
The career of Storm fullback Billy Slater may be over, after he was absurdly charged with a Grade One “shoulder charge” for his try-saving non-shoulder charge on Sharks winger Sosaia Feki – an infringement that carries a base penalty of two matches.
In contrast, Roosters hooker Jake Friend will be fine to play, assuming he submits an early guilty plea for a dangerous throw.
Halfback Cooper Cronk will be racing the clock to take his place in the decider, after scans revealed the former Melbourne star suffered a “severe left rotator cuff injury“.
The Panthers’ re-signing of halfback Nathan Cleary reportedly took place on Thursday – and does not include any sort of clause relating to his father, current Tigers coach Ivan Cleary.
The Sea Eagles have reportedly made an offer to former Rabbitohs coach Michael Maguire to take the club’s head coaching gig when Trent Barrett eventually departs.
The Raiders are reportedly in discussions to bring Storm back-up half Ryley Jacks to the nation’s capital.
Cowboys prop Matt Scott will undergo neck surgery this week, in the hopes of avoiding medical retirement.
Expect the Ivan Cleary rumours to kick into gear again soon.
According to Panthers boss Phil Gould on 100% Footy, the Panthers are expecting to get star halfback Nathan Cleary re-signed “soon“.
Re-signing Cleary would put an immediate end to speculation linking him with a move to the Tigers, but would likely re-ignite rumours linking his father, Ivan, to a return to the foot of the mountains.
Cleary has played 57 first grade games for the Panthers, and 3 Origins for New South Wales.
Scans have revealed that Sharks skipper Paul Gallen suffered damage to shoulder ligaments during the win over the Panthers, however his status for the preliminary final remains unclear.
Sharks coach Shane Flanagan is set to be rewarded for another deep finals run, with the club close to agreeing to a two or three-year extension.
With the Panthers’ season now over, contract talks are set to begin with star halfback Nathan Cleary, who said that “in the next week or so I’ll start talks and hopefully get it wrapped up”.
The Tigers will have a new home in 2019, after the club announced that they’ll be moving the four games previously played at ANZ Stadium across to the new Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta.
Former Roosters CEO Brian Canavan is set to be the latest high-profile recruit to the Knights, who are set to appoint him as the club’s Director of Football.
He could be joined in Newcastle by Warriors halfback Mason Lino, who the Knights have reportedly offered a two-year deal.
The Eels won’t be offering former Test star Tony Williams a new deal, following a reported positive test for an illicit substance.
Finally, plans are in place for Tonga to play a match against New Zealand Maori in Rotorua, in preparation for their historic clash with the Kangaroos the following week.
It’s probably too early to be starting rumours for 2020, but given the potential repercussions to the Panthers’ salary cap, this one might be relevant.
According to the Western Weekender, Panthers five-eighth James Maloney has spoken privately to the club about his desire to finish his career in England or France, and the Panthers are happy to facilitate that move in 2020.
This could be particularly handy for Penrith, if they’re to successfully re-sign halfback Nathan Cleary to an upgraded long-term deal.
Cleary himself comes off contract at the end of 2019, and should Maloney move on, it could save the Panthers from having two highly-paid halves on the books at once, and with give the club more financial flexibility to pay Cleary whatever it takes to keep him at the foot of the mountains.
Maloney has played 222 first grade games for the Panthers, Sharks, Roosters, Warriors and Storm, 12 Origins for New South Wales, and 3 Tests for Australia.