The Panthers are beginning to get a bit of a reputation for ignoring other teams’ contracts.
According to Channel 7, Panthers utility Tyrone Peachey is reportedly getting cold feet over his commitment to head to the Titans next year, with his management exploring the possibility of a backflip.
The major sticking point here is the same one that caused all the Ivan Cleary drama – specifically, he has a contract with another club, who are under no obligation to release him.
If the Titans were to release Peachey, they’d likely be wanting something in return – like Panthers five-eighth James Maloney, for example.
Word broke late last week that Maloney was keen to head to England in 2020, and that’s been followed up with a story on Channel 9 tonight that Maloney is being shopped around by the Panthers.
Given Maloney’s excellent form for the Panthers earlier in the year, it’s somewhat surprising that Penrith would be actively looking to move him on so soon; but after the emergence of the younger (and cheaper) Jarome Luai, the Panthers may feel that Maloney’s money could be better spent elsewhere (like on re-signing Origin halfback Nathan Cleary, for example).
That’s a lot of moving parts, but if the Panthers have shown anything of late, it’s that they won’t let a few contracts stand in their way.
Peachey has played 112 first grade games for the Panthers and Sharks, and 3 Origins for New South Wales.