The Penrith Panthers have responded to a bizarre transfer rumour involving one of their international stars and released NSW Blues winger Zac Lomax.

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Ever since he was dropped from the starting team in favour of Thomas Jenkins, there have been calls that Samoan international Izack Tago’s future may not be as safe as some might think.

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This saw former NRL forward Justin Horo float an idea on SEN Radio that Tago may be willing to join the Parramatta Eels to link up with his brother Jake Tago.

And in return, the Penrith would receive Zac Lomax in a player swap.

This comes after the Melbourne Storm failed to gain Lomax’s services after a long and messy court saga.

However, Penrith Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo was having nothing of it and stated that the rumours were completely false.

“I haven’t heard anything about that, but I love having Izack Tago as part of our team,” Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo told ABC Sport.

“I’d be very surprised if that was the case.“

Tago spent the opening round in NSW Cup where he ran for more than 200 metres in the club’s victory over the North Sydney Bears.

The future of Izack Tago is under a cloud at the moment.Source: Getty Images

PHINS STAR ADDRESSES FUTURE

Named co-captain of the Dolphins, star halfback Isaiya Katoa has addressed his long-term future at the club amid links to rival teams and even a different code.

While he is contracted until the end of 2028, there has been constant speculation that he could become the game’s first $2 million player if he opts to test the open market in the future, especially with the inclusion of the Perth Bears and the PNG Chiefs.

However, he intends to remain at the Dolphins.

“There’s new clubs coming in but what the Dolphins have done for me, I will never forget,” Katoa told Code Sports.

“They took a chance on me when I was a teenager coming through at Penrith and I don’t think the things I can do on a footy field will ever repay the faith the Dolphins have shown in me.

“I’m so grateful. They’ve looked after me and looked after my family, it’s just a great club heading in the right direction, so I definitely won’t be looking at going anywhere else.

”The Dolphins playmaker has also been consistently linked to rugby union since making the move from Patrician Brothers’ Blacktown to Barker College as a young high school student.

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While Rugby Australia scouts have previously tried to see if he would entertain a code switch, Katoa intends to remain in the 13-man code as is solely focused on leading his club to a premiership.

“To be honest, my heart is solely on league at the moment,” he added.

“I love playing NRL. There’s so many smaller goals and bigger goals that I wanted to achieve in the game and give the Dolphins some rewards for the investment they made in me.

“I guess I’m happy to stay on that path, where I’m solely focused on rugby league for the Dolphins.”

Isaiya Katoa has constantly been linked to the 15-man code.Source: The Daily Telegraph

WILL KNIGHTS’ OUTSIDE BACK DUO RETURN NEXT SEASON?

Fresh off defeating the Cowboys to open up their 2026 NRL campaign, the Newcastle Knights have opened up contract negotiations with one of their backline mainstays in an attempt to retain his services.

According to The Newcastle Herald, the Knights have opened up extension talks with winger Greg Marzhew to extend him for at least another season.

One of six players in the squad who are off-contract at the end of 2026, Marzhew has been on the club’s books since 2023 and has gone on to score 36 tries in 63 first-grade appearances.

A former Junior Kiwis representative, the 28-year-old starred in the opening round, which saw him make 198 running metres, break out of seven tackles, secure a line-break and cross over the line for a try.

If Marzhew decides to extend, it will further cloud the future of Australian Schoolboys representative outside back Wilson De Courcey, who also runs off-contract and has yet to secure a spot in the NRL line-up.

In addition to Marzhew, veteran Dane Gagai is another Knights outside back who is without a deal in 2026.

The 35-year-old is in the twilight of his career, but as he told his manager, he wants to play into next season and possibly beyond.

“I’ve spoken to my manager, and I’m not planning on stopping, I’m not planning on slowing down,” Gagai told the Newcastle Herald.

“Like I’ve always said, it’s not just playing as long as I can, it’s whether I lose the passion for playing the game of footy and competing, or I just can’t physically keep up… Touch wood the body feels good.”

”The focus is on 2026, but I’ll definitely be playing after that.”

At this early stage, it’s not known if the Knights have any interest in keeping Gagai on their roster beyond this season and while that is the 35-year-old’s preference, it sounds as if he’s open to joining a rival team.

Gagai and the Knights’ attack looked good in their first game of the Justin Holbrook era, with the former Titans coach set to get the best out of a talented Newcastle team with ball in hand.

In the Round 1 win over the Cowboys in Vegas, Gagai impressed with 105 metres, six tackle busts, a try and a line break.

Dane Gagai.Source: Getty Images

KNIGHTS STAR PUTS TALKS ON HOLD

Newcastle Knights star Dylan Lucas has reportedly put contract extension talks on hold as he prepares for their Round 2 showdown against the Manly Sea Eagles.

One of the club’s best since he debuted in 2023, Lucas has been earmarked as a future captain of the Hunter-based side and has already emerged as one of the NRL’s top back-rowers despite having less than 50 appearances to his name

Free to negotiate and speak with rival teams from November 1, The Newcastle Herald reports that Lucas has told club officials that “he wants to wait” before speaking with them about a new contract.

This comes after the Knights were keen to talk to him and his management about an extension despite the deadline still being over seven months away.

Already representing the Prime Minister’s XIII in 2024, Lucas had a solid start to last season, but unfortunately, his year came to a halt after he suffered a season-ending lisfranc injury after just nine games.

Other players at the club who have the chance to test the market in November include Bradman Best, Jermaine McEwen, Dominic Young and superstar fullback and captain Kalyn Ponga.

Dylan Lucas and Fletcher Sharpe.Source: News Corp Australia

BRONCOS TRAIN-AND-TRIALLIST LINKED WITH OVERSEAS MOVE

After spending the pre-season on a train-and-trial contract with the Brisbane Broncos, utility back Ben Farr has found himself linked with a move overseas.

Previously with the New Zealand Warriors, Farr who can play either at fullback or in the halves, has been a standout in the reserve-grade competitions for a number of years now but has been unable to secure an NRL spot.

Currently plying his trade with the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the QLD Cup, Farr’s management have offered him to multiple clubs in the Super League, per Love Rugby League.

It is understood that the rookie is also keen on a potential overseas move after playing pre-season matches with the Broncos alongside the likes of Jesse Arthars and Phillip Coates.

He was named the QLD Cup’s Fullback of the Year in 2025 after scoring 15 tries in 22 matches.

Ben Farr could be one of the players an expansion team looks at in the future.Source: News Regional Media