If his new contract sees him as a hard running front rower, then I will be happy. If he continues to “ball play” at the line……god help us !!!
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Sad to see him go.
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Hope he goes out in style this year.
He has been a stalwart in this premiership streak, tbh though I think his best years will be behind him with the Bears
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Good club man, the type of player every club needs. Always gave 100% and never suffered from any inflated ego or feelings of self-importance.
Hope for him every success in the future. If that is in a coaching role, then all the better.
Thanks Eiso! 
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Agree wholeheartedly. - genuine nice guy who gave it his all, supported our team whenever needed during our glory years. Humble and while not full of ability, just kept giving it his best.
Hope the rumours are true and he is our new NSW cup coach.
With a spot freed in our roster, wonder who we are elevating or bringing to the club?
Updated the Junior Pathways coaches. It was a bit hard to track down the names (club did not announce them preseason), but I have now found and confirmed them
2026 Junior Pathways Coaching Staff
No confirmation from the club, but from for all the digging for answers I have done, it would seem that Matt is the NSW Coach.
Still waiting on club confirmation.
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Great news, and a complete 180! Last year there were any number of stories about how the club would release him before his contract finished if he found another offer.
Awesome player, very glad he’s staying!
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Great news indeed!!! Hope the good news keeps on coming
Reports say there were 4 clubs after him and he turned them all down in the hopes he could get another contract at Penrith. His persistence (and his performance) has paid off.
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Interesting interview regarding Panthers salary cap:
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The amount of chatter lately about PNG Chiefs has me mildly concerned about the lengthy list of players coming off contract this year.
I hope players are getting some solid independent tax advice on the ‘tax-free’ nature that is being bandied about in the media. Unless some additional exemptions are put in place by the Aus Govt, I am sure the ATO is going to be taking a very close look at some of these arrangements and whether they truly are a “non-resident”…
And just like that, there’s news today of Aus Govt passing legislation with the budget to ensure theres an exemption here in Aus!
For years now the NRL has tried to level the playing field via the salary cap; now they have gone on and ploughed the field. The poor Bears must be feeling doubly aggrieved.
To be honest I’m not getting the point of the PNG Chiefs. (I’ll probably make a new thread about this later), more specifically what is the goal here?
Is this designed to help boost rugby league development in PNG and help develop their junior bases and elevate their domestic leagues?
Or is this jus a diplomacy play from the Government. Giving PNG something they want and in return they choose to build a relationship with us and no the Chinese?
If it is the former, then why start to load this side up with NRL players from Australia and offering incentives that pull them away from the clubs who develop these players… it seems counterintuitive.
Don’t get me wrong, it will be nice to see a PNG domestic team in the NRL… but the management are real cagey about their reasons and intentions. I guess the old saying is true… “follow the money”.
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