‘News to me’: Panthers skipper forced into awkward contract admission
Panthers captain Isaah Yeo was forced to sit awkwardly and answer questions about his future during a live television appearance.
Yeo remains contracted to Penrith until the end of next season, but there has been plenty made about whether he and some high-profile teammates including Nathan Cleary would re-sign or test the open market on November 1.
Isaah Yeo watches on during Penrith’s round 21 game. Getty Images
Reports surfaced on Saturday evening that Yeo was going to begin talks with the Panthers about a new contract - something he clearly wasn’t aware of.
When asked by the Fox League panel about the reports and whether he had moved to extend his time at Penrith, the captain was left red-faced.
“No, not yet,” Yeo said.
“I touched on it at the start of the year. I think I assumed everybody would go to November 1. My perfect world would be staying at Penrith. There was nothing that was going to happen over the Origin period.
“I’d love conversations to maybe start now, but that is news to me.
“There might be things happening behind the scenes that I’m not aware of.”
Yeo has played all of his 281 first grade games for the Panthers and while many expect him to re-sign, nothing is set in stone yet.
It comes as Liam Martin’s management push for an upgraded contract for the four-time premiership winner.
According to The Sydney Morning Herald, the tough back-rower is earning about $780,000 per season on his current deal, but wants closer to $850,000.
Martin and his manager Allan Gainey will meet with the club this week.
