Trent Merrin to announce his playing future sometime in the next week ( mentioned on Ch9 tonight )
Penrith have emerged as favourites for the signature of representative forward Trent Merrin.
Fairfax Media can reveal the Panthers have identified Merrin as a priority signing and are preparing a lucrative offer in a blow to the chances of him becoming a one-club man.
The club already has a formidable pack that laid the foundations for a top-four finish last year. However, there is expected to be some turnover, with a raft of forwards coming off contract including Adam Docker, Tyrone Peachey, Brent Kite, Nigel Plum, Lewis Brown, Jeremy Latimore and Ben Murdoch-Masila.
The addition of Merrin is seen as the ingredient required to help the Panthers take the next step towards premiership success. Kite, soon to be 34, will probably retire at the end of the season in a move that would free up money to chase Merrin.
The Panthers had been chasing Ben Matulino and hoped coach Ivan Cleary's relationship from his Warriors days would help. But after Matulino re-signed with the New Zealand side until the end of 2017, Cleary has redirected his focus and funds towards Merrin.
St George Illawarra are keen to retain him but have salary cap issues that prevent them from competing on an even financial footing with other suitors. Complicating matters, it is unclear when new recruit Russell Packer will be registered to play after being released from jail following a stint for assault.
The Dragons are not prepared to budge from their initial offer to Merrin, which his manager, Wayne Beavis, described last year as "not in the spirit of negotiations". There have been subsequent meetings between the parties but no progress has been made.
Several rivals, including the Roosters and Warriors, have expressed interest, with the offer to cross the Tasman particularly lucrative. However, Merrin's preference is to remain in Wollongong, where he was born and still lives.
The Shellharbour Sharks junior has made 107 appearances for the Red V since making his debut, including a premiership victory under Wayne Bennett in 2010. But the Dragons are making contingency plans in case he leaves and are looking to bolster their front-row stocks. The joint-venture's powerbrokers are in negotiations with Canterbury's international prop, Sam Kasiano, though he will probably remain at Belmore.
Merrin, who has played 10 games for NSW, is in a relationship with surfing champion Sally Fitzgibbons. Signing with the Panthers would allow him to remain in Wollongong, though he would face a long commute to training.
Merrin would have made his Kangaroos debut in the Four Nations if not for a shoulder injury. It is the second consecutive season that injury ended his Test chances, after a knee problem ended his hopes of a start in the World Cup. However, Merrin will add another representative jersey to his collection when he comes off the bench for the All Stars clash this Friday.
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ragons-star-trent-merrin-20150207-138g6p.html
