The Penrith Panthers are set to strengthen their forward pack stocks with reports Warriors prop Tom Ale is heading across the ditch in search of further NRL opportunity.
Ale is off-contract at the end of 2026 and has played 42 games for the Warriors, with the 26-year-old now entering his rugby league prime.
Penrith have yet to finalise their Top 30 roster for 2026 and are looking to the open market for depth, and it will be interesting to see if Ivan Cleary can uncover another moneyball-style role player to fit into the Panthers’ premiership machine.
In recent seasons, forwards like Scott Sorensen, Luke Garner and Matt Eisenhuth have been brought in on value contracts and ended up developing into important role players in the Panthers’ success, with Ale another potential depth signing who could take his game further.
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Since debuting in 2020, Ale has gone from featuring regularly in first grade over the last two seasons to not playing a single NRL match in 2025, with the Warriors’ stacked forward rotation limiting his chances.
The Panthers’ interest follows the late backflip of Kayliss Fatialofa, who chose to remain in New Zealand rather than move to Penrith.
The Warriors have seen the emergence of several young forwards this year, including Leka Halasima and Demetric Vaimauga, which has led the club to not offer Ale a new contract.
For Ale, the move would offer the chance to join a premiership-winning system, play under one of the NRL’s best coaching setups, and regain a place in first grade.
It could prove a fresh start for a player still searching to make his mark at the top level, while also becoming a potentially important depth signing for Penrith.