Panthers prop Moses Leota can “100 per cent” see himself staying at the club beyond his current deal and has thanked Penrith officials for allowing his manager to test the market early as he weighs up his future.
Family and long-term financial security will play a key role in determining where the four-time premiership winner finishes his NRL career, with a number of rival clubs set to go after one of the most feared front-rowers in the world.
Leota turns 31 in a few weeks and is contracted until the end of the 2027 season, but the Panthers have given him permission to test his value before November 1 as the club prepares for a potential poaching raid for a number of their stars.
Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o and Liam Martin are just some of the big-name players who will become free agents, with the Panthers facing a delicate balancing act to retain who they can under a salary cap that will go up.
Leota has been a key pillar up front during their dominant run since the start of the decade, but there are no guarantees that he’ll be at Penrith, with the Eels and incoming franchises in Perth and PNG linked to his services.
“It’s just to see what’s out there, and then obviously I’ll come back to the club and we’ll sort it out that way,” he said after Penrith’s win over the Rabbitohs.
“I am (happy here). My manager has got a job to do, and I’ll leave it up to him. For me, I’ll just focus on my footy and we’ll get it done when we get it done.
“Credit to the club because they let me go to market early. We’ll see how it goes.
“One hundred per cent (I can see myself staying at Penrith) but I’ll leave that up to my manager and we’ll go from there.”
The Panthers didn’t have to help out the veteran prop before November 1, but it’s a sign of respect for their stars who have stayed loyal to help them set new standards in the NRL.
“He’s earned the right to have a look around,” coach Ivan Cleary said.
“He’s got a couple of weeks until the end of the bye to see what’s out there. They’ll get back to us and we’ll see what happens.”
Meanwhile, Jack Cogger is facing two weeks on the sidelines if he takes the early guilty plea for a grade two careless high tackle on Ashton Ward that saw him sent to the sin bin on Friday.
Cogger risks an extra week if he fights the charge and loses, with Penrith set to welcome back starting halfback Nathan Cleary after next week’s bye.
Originally published as ‘See what’s out there’: Moses Leota opens up on potential Panthers exit as powerhouse club prepares for salary cap squeeze