Story on nrl.com from Latu flat out denies he's being released. Said he had to let a fan down in Auckland who had said look forward to seeing you next year.
That said, Peter Griffin did come out, after doing the Peter Time dance, earlier this year and emphatically deny there were any issues for TMM stating he was a key part of their team.
He has 100% been given their blessing to talk to other clubs. As you said, that club has form denying.
Will he be a Warrior? A knight? Stay a Panther? Who knows, but these dudes are lying.
Pretty obvious why too, the media are trying to run some sort of 'players unhappy with the club' angle and talk of player moves is fuelling that fire. Guys like Latu and Peachey are just looking for better deals and more stable game time - the media take that and spin it into a 'player revolts' and 'club in crisis'. Can't blame the Panthers in trying to take back control of the conversation.
In Nz, one thing our club is good at is being reasonably open (or at least not denying) if a player is being allowed to negotiate with other clubs. The Aussie clubs just seem to deny until they're blue in the face.
