EXCLUSIVE: Ominous sign premiership-winning Panthers could be broken up by Chiefs spending spree
The signing of Jarome Luai will pave the way for the PNG Chiefs to target the playmaker's former Penrith teammates, Andrew Johns contends, as the the NRL ladder leaders face a contract crunch at the end of 2027.
After Luai's announcement that he will join the PNG franchise in 2028, the focus has shifted to which players the new franchise will target next.
Speaking to media on Wednesday, Penrith co-captain Isaah Yeo confirmed that he and other Panthers stars will speak to rival teams when they come off contract in 2027. Those words were ominous, particularly considering eight of the Panthers' core dynasty players, the club's biggest names among them, come off contract at the end of next season.
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"I think we probably all will (test the open market). I'm not sure what the club's doing in that regard but I feel like I'll certainly be open-minded in that regard," he said.
Panthers premiership winning champions Yeo, Brian To'o, Nathan Cleary, Mitch Kenny and Liam Martin all have contracts that expire in 2027. At other clubs, the likes of Connor Watson, Jesse Ramien, Joseph Manu and Xavier Coates have also been linked with a potential move to the PNG Chiefs.
Apart from Coates, all the players mentioned above are in their late 20s or early 30s, and tax free money at the end of their careers will no doubt weigh heavily on them.
Speaking on Wide World of Sports' Freddy and the Eighth, Johns said having Luai on the books is a huge advantage as a selling point for PNG to former teammates.
"Mitch Kenny, he's one, he's off contract, and he's close to all the Penrith blokes, he's close to the Wests Tigers," Johns said.
Jarome Luai of the Tigers embraces with Brian To'o. Getty
"The other one's Brian To'o, he's off contract, I understand the end of next year, so him and (Luai) are great mates."
Luai was the best man at To'o's wedding.
"I think they'll be looking next signing for a fullback. Probably a dummy half, those two, and then they've got to buy some big boys up front, some front rowers," Johns added.
However, Johns said while signing big names is important for the new franchise, there also needs to be a long-term plan to utilise home grown talent.
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Isaah Yeo and Luai celebrate victory during the 2022 NRL Grand Final. Getty
"I think to start with they'll have three, four, maybe five local players or PNG players, but the goal has got to be in 10-years' time, 75, 80 per cent of the squad are PNG players.
"Get their development right, so the young men and young women from PNG can chase their dreams and stay in their own house.
"If you start putting good programs in there, start getting some good facilities out there, putting them on proper diets, training, coaching, without a doubt, with that much sort of popularity around the sport of the NRL and the ambition of young kids, boys and girls, to be rugby league players, then they'll adapt very quickly."
Penrith players will undoubtedly be in PNG's sights but the Tigers also have the likes of Terrell May free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1.
May's brother Taylan, winger Sunia Turuva and rising star Heamasi Makasini are also free to test the open market at the end of the season.
