It appears the future of Daine Laurie is finally sorted, with the unwanted Panthers player reportedly on the verge of signing with Ricky Stuart and the Canberra Raiders. Laurie is a fan favourite at the Panthers, but is one of 13 players told they’re free to leave after not being offered a new contract.
The 26-year-old has played 23 games since joining Penrith from the Wests Tigers in 2024, but hasn’t been able to cement his place in first-grade due to the presence of NSW and Australia fullback Dylan Edwards. Laurie always performs when called upon in first-grade, including in Round 26 against the Bulldogs when Ivan Cleary rested 16 of his NRL team.
But the utility back hasn’t been offered a new contract for 2026, and it looks like the Raiders have swooped. The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Laurie and the Raiders are in “advanced talks” for what could be a three-year deal. It comes as a heartbreaking blow for Panthers fans, who had called on the club to reconsider and offer Laurie a new deal.
Daine Laurie (second from right at bottom) is on the verge of signing with Ricky Stuart’s Raiders (L). Image: Getty
Laurie would likely have the same sort of role at Canberra as he did at Penrith, but would be a great depth piece for the Raiders. Stuart already has young gun Kaeo Weekes as his starting fullback, so it remains to be seen how much first-grade Laurie will get in the nation’s capital.
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Speaking last week, Laurie made a plea to rival NRL clubs and said he didn’t want to move to the Super League in the UK. “I don’t have a clue (what my future holds) … I’m just going to take it day by day and hopefully something turns up in the background,” he told AAP.
“I reckon I’ve matured as a person and I reckon my game has definitely gotten better since I left the Tigers. It was a challenge for myself to go over there and try and test myself playing week in week out first grade.
“I’ve obviously learned heaps off Dyl (Edwards). He’s a champion fullback and I’ve looked up to him since I came down here as a 16-year-old. He’s the one I’ve tried to model my game off and he’s been a great mentor.”
Panthers fans had called on the club to reconsider and offer Daine Laurie a contract. (Photo by Mark Evans/Getty Images)
Canberra Raiders announce departure of six players
Meanwhile, the Raiders have announced the departures of six players from their first-grade squad. It was already known that Jamal Fogarty (Manly), Pasami Saulo (Newcastle) and Trey Mooney (Newcastle) were leaving, but the Raiders revealed this week that Albert Hopoate, Danny Levi and Jordan Martin also won’t be returning in 2026.
Hopoate is the biggest name on the list after playing 37 NRL games since joining Canberra in 2022. He appeared to be a lock for one of the wing positions to start the 2025 season, but an ACL injury ended his year before it even began.
He’s since been overtaken by Xavier Savage, Savelio Tamale and Jed Stuart in the pecking order, with Laurie and Sione Finau (from the Dragons) set to join in 2026. As for the Panthers, Laurie is one of 13 players who haven’t been offered a new contract.
Panthers undergoing NRL roster overhaul
It was confirmed at the club’s presentation night that Laurie, Soni Luke, Luke Sommerton, Brad Schneider (Dolphins), Mavrik Geyer (Tigers), Zac Lipowicz, Asu Kepaoa (Knights), John Sagaga, Zack Lamont, Austin Dias, Riley Price, Harry Hassett and Preston Riki are all leaving. Furthermore, David Fale is set to join the Dragons and is reportedly in the middle of the 10-day cooling-off period.
The Panthers are shaking up their roster and re-stocking their junior ranks. They’ve signed young playmakers Keahn Skipps (from the Raiders), Haami Loza (from the Knights) and Elijah Birve (from the Sunshine Coast Falcons in Queensland), while also poaching rising outside back Thomas Goodfield from the Wests Tigers’ system. They’re also said to be getting Tom Ale and Toby Crosby from the Warriors, and bringing back Jack Cogger from Newcastle after he helped the Panthers win the premiership in 2023.