2026 rumoured and confirmed signings

[age.s]

Ok that is weird now, it feels like we are stacking up options as if we know Dyl isnt going to be here in a couple years.

It was a while ago so take it with a grain of salt, but Blade did at one point suggest that the end of Dyls current contract might be the point at which the club would make some difficult decisions.

 

[Fangs]

Its a big year for Dylan.

If 2025 was Dylan in decline then we should see it pretty clearly in the first 5-10 rounds of 2026.

Edwards has an off-season this time. No surgery. Likewise for Cleary and Tailagi. So that spine is training together. I wouldn't expect things to be so clunky at the start of 2026.

 

[Exsilium]

Its a big year for Dylan.

If 2025 was Dylan in decline then we should see it pretty clearly in the first 5-10 rounds of 2026.

Edwards has an off-season this time. No surgery. Likewise for Cleary and Tailagi. So that spine is training together. I wouldn't expect things to be so clunky at the start of 2026.

Fatigue for Dylan, Yeo, Leota and Cleary was a massive factor in the opening rounds last season.

I expect us to be firing from round 1.

Blaize will be better for the past season too. He will show his talent this season and has earnt his stripes

 

[Sime_11]

id be very shocked if we started 1 & 5 by easter

we'll be fine - keep banking those wins and get prepared for origin period

end of season is all about managing the workload of the boys so they are primed to another run in september

 

[Fangs]

Fatigue for Dylan, Yeo, Leota and Cleary was a massive factor in the opening rounds last season.

I expect us to be firing from round 1.

Blaize will be better for the past season too. He will show his talent this season and has earnt his stripes

I think that will be the case too.

It will be a response to how poor our 2025 start was. Had we have scraped 2-3 extra games in the early rounds of 2025 then things look a lot different. Probably even another premiership in our cabinet.

Tailagi's first year in the 6. I thought he was terrific. But he has to learn fast.

 

[IcemanCleary]

Toby crosby has be upgraded from a train and trial contract to a dev contract

 

[Black Magik]

Toby crosby has be upgraded from a train and trial contract to a dev contract

Does that mean we won’t see him in first grade till mid season?

 

[Kilkenny]

Does that mean we won’t see him in first grade till mid season?

I believe that is still the case. Same with train and trial players. Round 11 or something unless they get permission from the NRL.

Certainly more money on a development deal.

 

[BossleyPanther]

I believe that is still the case. Same with train and trial players. Round 11 or something unless they get permission from the NRL.

Certainly more money on a development deal.

That sucks. I think he will make it in NRL.. his on a 2 year contract right?

 

[IcemanCleary]

I believe that is still the case. Same with train and trial players. Round 11 or something unless they get permission from the NRL.

Certainly more money on a development deal.

I could have my wires crossed but did they bring in a rule last year that dev players can play from round 1. Again I might be completely wrong on that to

 

[hindy111]

Based on signings and losses for the first time in a few years our squad is a lot stronger the coming year than before .The depth is great and will press for first grade

I am looking forward to seeing if Toby Crosby comes good. I like seeing these project type players. Due to age and development I imagine he is the pick for a diamond in the rough.
Tome Ale and Going add great depth and who knows may even suprise similar to Sorrenson.

 

[Crashtest]

I could have my wires crossed but did they bring in a rule last year that dev players can play from round 1. Again I might be completely wrong on that to

That’s correct, development players are now eligible to play NRL from round 1. The NRL changed the name from development contracts to a Supplementary List in 2023, and one of the changes was that players can play NRL from round 1.

His original Train and Trial contract meant he could play nrl until round 11. So it shows how much he must be impressing the coaching staff to upgrade his contract so early.

 

[Kilkenny]

As i made the point previously NSW Cup should be interesting this season given almost the entirety of last seasons team is no longer with us.

 

[Black Magik]

As i made the point previously NSW Cup should be interesting this season given almost the entirety of last seasons team is no longer with us.

That is pretty clever by the club. We know First Grade will need to start looking different in a few years and the cap is our enemy. Makes sense to refresh the seconds and get ready for the inevitable change, hopefully for less cap so we keep Cleary, Blaize, McLean etc

 

[Iamback]

Flegg guys have a higher ceiling, guys like Mav were just taking the spot of someone who could of been developed.

So the club made the right choice

 

[John Hamblin]

As i made the point previously NSW Cup should be interesting this season given almost the entirety of last seasons team is no longer with us.

Just a thought on Toby Crosby. Do we see him as a middle or edge forward. Kikau was an edge forward with the Cows, If he develops into a genuine first grader ( with the initials TC) an appropriate knickname MAY be Top Cat!!!

 

[Chins]

Just a thought on Toby Crosby. Do we see him as a middle or edge forward. Kikau was an edge forward with the Cows, If he develops into a genuine first grader ( with the initials TC) an appropriate knickname MAY be Top Cat!!!

Kikau was a prop and a winger at the Cowboys I believe

 

[IcemanCleary]

With the new 6 man bench rule coming in, I wonder who ivan may throw in. The best ratio to have would probably be 4 forwards, a utility and a back. Who i would have:

Forwards
14 Garner
15 Sorro/ipap, one of them will start
16 Henry
17 Patea/Ale/Going

Utility
18 Lussick/Cogger

Back
19 Jenkins

 

[West Nowra Panther]

Just a thought on Toby Crosby. Do we see him as a middle or edge forward. Kikau was an edge forward with the Cows, If he develops into a genuine first grader ( with the initials TC) an appropriate knickname MAY be Top Cat!!!

I suppose this is the hurry up and wait question around young Crosby.

Only thing I can hope for is that he's got the ticker to just get knocked around and keep going. Payne Hass like if you need to compare.

That's been the difference with Penrith during our golden run in recent years, TICKER. The boys have never given up.

 

[Pomoz]

I suppose this is the hurry up and wait question around young Crosby.

Only thing I can hope for is that he's got the ticker to just get knocked around and keep going. Payne Hass like if you need to compare.

That's been the difference with Penrith during our golden run in recent years, TICKER. The boys have never given up.

I remember against the Storm, NAS absolutely smashed Yeo in a terrific tackle. His teammates congratulated him rushing in to go "great hit". But Yeo got up, dusted himself off and just kept making runs, runs and more runs until NAS was crying for oxygen. Relentless, fearless, and it proved to be demoralising for the Storm.

That and the the fearsome onslaught by the forwards unleashed against Parramatta in the grand final, a forward performance, some said, was the greatest ever seen in a grand final , are my favourite memories of the Panthers recent success. The understated nature of our team sometimes disguises the fact that it is an iron fist in a velvet glove. TICKER.