Panthers CEO Matt Cameron has confidently declared the club’s decision to appoint Peter Wallace as head coach from 2028 will “enhance” its chances of keeping Nathan Cleary.
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The superstar halfback is one of 12 Panthers players currently inside the club’s top 30 who will come off contract at the end of 2027, when current head coach Ivan Cleary leaves.
Cleary’s stunning announcement on Wednesday immediately sparked questions on what it means for the rest of the playing group, headlined by the high-profile list of names who can test the market at the end of this year.
That also includes Nathan, co-captain Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Liam Martin, Mitch Kenny and Blaize Talagi among others.
While it would be easy to think that Ivan’s looming departure could be just the start of a mass exodus, Cameron said the squad’s reaction to the news of Wallace’s appointment suggested otherwise.
“The reaction from the playing group was clearly different when Iv told them that he was not continuing with his contract but the emotion in the room when the group was informed that Pete will be taking over, I think in many ways, will actually be a benefit to us as we move forward,” he said at Wednesday’s press conference.
In fact, when pressed on whether Ivan’s departure will impact the club’s ability to keep Nathan, Cameron said he was “confident” Wallace’s promotion “will enhance” it.
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‘No interest’ Cleary clue on future | 00:57
In saying that, Cameron was not naive to the threat rival clubs — and in particular the NRL’s two incoming franchises — could pose.
“The reality of PNG, starting with their signings two weeks ago, has probably amplified not just us, but other players coming off contract in the NRL with Perth and all those other things combined,” Cameron said.
“Our goal is to keep every one of those players at this club,” he later added.
“That is our priority. We realise with new clubs coming into the league and advantages that they have over other clubs, there may be interest out there.”
While stressing that he and general manager of football Shane Elford are doing everything they can to keep the core of the playing group together, Cameron also made it clear they deserve the right to explore other options if they decide to.
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“We have been in constant dialogue with players (off-contact at the end of 2027),” Cameron said.
“We’ve been in constant dialogue not just with them but (general manager of football) Shane Elford and their managers.
“… We feel this cohort has absolutely earned the right to travel their own path in some ways. It doesn’t mean Shane and I will be sitting there twiddling our thumbs… we’ve been meeting with these players, we’ve been meeting with these managers as we’ve gone forward.
“We’re actively trying to get deals done, but at the end of the day, if a player comes to us and says, ‘I just really want to focus on the season at the moment’, we’re going to respect that.
“Just because they got to November 1 doesn’t mean they’re leaving club. I used AI last night because I can’t add up all the numbers, and I think the number was 507 days until they come off contract.
“We’re not in a rush. We’re going to respect the players and their decisions that they want to make. But, as I said, our first intent is to get every player that we can get re-signed but second to that is we want to respect their decisions.”
Cleary confirms departure from Panthers | 02:40
That extends to Nathan, who has been the face of the franchise since their first trip to the grand final under Ivan in 2020.
Cleary was quoted earlier in the year telling reporters that he has never been off-contract, having previously agreed to extensions with the Panthers long before he had a chance to test himself on the open market.
Cameron used Wednesday’s press conference to clarify that does not mean the Penrith co-captain wants to explore his options beyond November 1.
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“That’s not what he said,” explained Cameron.
“At this point in time, using Nathan as an example clearly he wants to focus on Origin and from the club’s point of view we’re more than happy to respect that decision and it’s the same with every other player who is off-contract at the moment and the conversations Shane is having with the managers at the moment.
“If they want to get a deal done, we’ll get a deal. If they want to focus on what’s in front of them at the moment, we’ll respect that decision, and if they want to see what opportunities are out there down the track, this cohort of players that we’re talking about, absolutely have earned the right to do that.”