'Pretty incredible': Fears of Panthers exodus grow as Liam Martin drops major PNG hint

Panthers enforcer Liam Martin has hinted he will explore free agency and admitted being part of the PNG Chiefs' launch into the NRL would be "pretty incredible".

Martin is one of six Panthers premiership players, along with Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Mitch Kenny, Moses Leota and Paul Alamoti, who will become free agents on November 1 unless they re-sign with Penrith before then.

Yeo admitted last week he would go to free agency and said he suspected his premiership teammates would, too.

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Among the other Panthers stars who could hit free agency on November 1 are Isaiah Papali'i and Blaize Talagi.

Armed with the luxury of being able to offer tax-free salaries, the PNG Chiefs are posing a mighty threat ahead of their entry into the NRL in 2028.

Martin was quizzed on his future on Tuesday.

"I'm getting towards that age in my career where my next contract could be my last," the 29-year-old told 9News.

"It [free agency] is something I want to experience."

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PNG landed Wests Tigers co-captain and four-time Panthers premiership winner Jarome Luai as their first official signing last week.

South Sydney phenom Alex Johnston – the greatest try-scorer in Australian rugby league history – will be announced as an official PNG signing in due time.

Players who sign with the NRL's 19th franchise will not only be on tax-free club salaries but be able to enter into tax-free third-party deals.

The tax-free advantages afforded to PNG have infuriated rival club bosses, though the NRL will give all other clubs about $4 million each to soften the blow.

For some players, it's not only the rich financial incentives that are appealing but the prospect of being part of a venture as ambitious and foreign as the Chiefs'.

"It's certainly an interesting one," Martin said.

"To be part of something like that would be pretty incredible, so you obviously can't rule it out.

"But I can't even talk to them till November."