Penrith are in talks to extend the contract of captain Matt Moylan at the club until the end of the 2021 season.
There are indications the deal could be announced as early as this week with negotiations believed to be significantly advanced.
Moylan is yet to play a game for the Panthers this season and won’t return against St George-Illawarra tomorrow despite speculation during the week.
Panthers coach Anthony Griffin expects Moylan to return against Parramatta next Sunday.
Panthers Group CEO Brian Fletcher confirmed to Fairfax Media that negotiations with Moylan are underway despite the fullback being signed until the end of 2017.
“We’ve got Matt Moylan tied up until the end of next year, but we’re in negotiations for a long-term deal with him … to extend him four years after that,” Fletcher told Fairfax Media.
“He is one of the nicest young blokes you will ever meet, he’s a Penrith boy who loves playing football and the local community think the world of him. If we can get him back on the paddock next week to regain his old form and add some new form, you don’t know what he could be.
“He’d be the face of Penrith among all the young blokes going forward, you’d think that would entice the young blokes to sign up down the track long term.
“Gus [Panthers supremo Phil Gould] is dealing with him at the moment and hopefully that will be completed in the near future. We feel it’s the right time to do it with all of our young blokes coming through and the opening of the $21 million academy. Once they see that, it would be very hard to not want to play here in the future. No one has got anything like it. That’s all tied into the future with our young people.”
Earlier this year Moylan was appointed captain of Penrith in a surprise move by Anthony Griffin.
Troy Dodds
Troy Dodds is the Weekender's Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia's leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.