If Ivan has signed with Penrith it will be for after 2020. That’s professional. If the Tigers continue to employ him, that’s professional. If they don’t that’s sour grapes.
Signing Ivan from 2020 onwards based on the historical context reeks of a lack of professionalism from the Panthers and if I was a Panthers fan I'd be pissed off. Your club has fired a coach, signed a new coach and 1 player to a long term deal that might not connect for 2 years. 2 years in the life of a professional athlete is like dog years.
Look at the merry go round of bullshit Manly has dealt with since signing DCE long term. You get players constantly popping up now as cornerstone generation players like Valentine Holmes is being touted as. This is bullshit hype that clubs should be fighting against in every sport and code with a salary cap. But because of the system player managers know the clubs are the ones who have to work around them and the result is shitty clubs paying the same salaries to once in a lifetime athletes (Lebron James) to better than average players (Carmello Anthony) in order to try and remain competitive.
Theres certain players who earn the right to have a say in how a team will move forward for the next 5-10 years. Nathan was 2-4 years away from providing motivating and consistent performances to be that player. You can't deny that right now he looks the goods. But Dugan, Hayne and DCE were the future of the league at some point too.
Meanwhile every single halfback between 14 and 18 playing in Penriths junior system will be thinking they don't have a future in the area now if the current halfback can already dictate club terms for the next 7 years.
... Maybe we're just fighting the wrong battle. Each club is doing what they think is in their best interest in a competition that rewards f**king others and f**k wit player managers, instead of development and loyalty.