NRL contracts 2019: Panthers keen on Luai as Fiji Rugby responds to Hayne claims

Maloney's future shaky as Panthers chase Luai

There are fresh doubts over James Maloney's future at Penrith, with the club reportedly looking to offer young playmaker Jarome Luai a long-term deal to stay with the Panthers.

Now that the club has locked up Ivan Cleary and son Nathan to massive contracts which will see them stay at the foot of the mountains until 2023 and 2024 respectively, Panthers officials are trying to sure up the five-eighth position and Maloney might not be in their plans.

Maloney still has two years to run on his deal after joining the club as part of a swap deal with Matt Moylan at the end of 2017.

But Penrith is keen on offering Luai a three or four-year deal, though the club hasn't made a formal offer as yet.

“Our main focus is signing Jarome,” Penrith Group CEO Brian Fletcher told the Daily Telegraph. 

“He came through the lower grades with Nathan. They complement each other.

“You could have a halfback, five-eighth combination. They could be superstars, couldn’t they?

“Jarome would be the ideal replacement when Jimmy moves on. It’s being discussed at meetings that he is a priority."

With club chasing Luai, Maloney was recently linked with a possible swap deal that would have sent him to the Gold Coast Titans and allowed Tyrone Peachey to stay at Penrith.

But Panthers GM Phil Gould has repeatedly denied Maloney will be shipped out before the end of his deal, despite rumours of a split with teammates.

Fiji Rugby says no to Hayne

Jarryd Hayne's future is no closer to being determined, however Fiji Rugby has shut down any chance of the cross-code star playing in the Rugby World Cup in 2019, according to Fairfax Media.

Officials in Fiji have now gone cold on the prospect of having the former NFL player being part of their squad for the tournament in Japan, after media reports suggested they might be interested.

The former NSW and Australia star has been linked with St George Illawarra, however the Dragons are yet to make a formal offer after the Eels started training without him.

The veteran would most likely reject an opportunity to play Super Rugby with an Australian or New Zealand franchise because the chances of being offered a deal worth more than $500,000 a season are slim.

Bulldogs make coaching changes

Dean Pay has made some moves at Belmore, with Steve Georgallis and David Penna moved around the Bulldogs football department.

Georgallis will now be Dean Pay's assistant after coaching the Intrust Super Premiership team.

Penna will assume the Jersey Flegg coaching role after moving to the club as an assistant coach in 2016.