Panthers begin process to lock down Cleary's long-term

Penrith Panthers CEO Matt Cameron says the club has taken the first steps toward securing the long-term futures of Ivan Cleary and Nathan Cleary, confirming “preliminary conversations” have begun with the off-contract duo.

After flagging in February that extension talks were imminent, Cameron revealed discussions have now commenced, though the club isn’t feeling any urgency to finalise new deals before their contracts expire at the end of 2027.

“We’ve had preliminary conversations with both Nathan and Ivan and their respective managers and at this point in time, they’re contracted until the end of 2027,” Cameron said on SEN.

“We’re really in no rush to get anything done but we’re confident we’ll have both of them at the club as long as they want to be here.”

Both are free to negotiate with rival clubs from November 1, with expansion outfits the Perth Bears and PNG Chiefs looming as potential suitors.

Despite that, Nathan Cleary has made it clear he isn’t rushing into any decisions, stressing he’s focused on his current deal and maintaining a broader perspective on his career.

“In my mind, there’s no need to make a decision right now," he said.

"I don’t want to make decisions about my future too quickly, or jump the gun on anything.

“At the end of the day, I love where I’m at right now. To me, I haven’t really thought too much about my future because I still have two years to run on my contract.”

“I understand people will start to talk about it, but it’s not in my mind at all – it still seems so far away.

“I look at how I want to be once I retire, I want to have no regrets – and that’s with the way I play, my preparation, whether I’m enjoying myself, contract negotiations … it’s a more holistic thing rather than just about contracts. I never want it to become a distraction. [But] it still feels so far away.”

While he has been linked to a potential switch to rugby union, Cleary reiterated his commitment to the code for now.

“My passion is rugby league. I couldn’t see myself leaving any time soon. Somewhere down the track, maybe. But not at the moment.

“I’m not closing any doors. I'm open to anything. I'm also very happy with where I’m at.

“It’s hard for me to envisage not [playing for] Penrith. I absolutely love Penrith, it’s home to me.”

Meanwhile, premiership-winning prop Moses Leota has also declared his desire to remain at the club beyond 2027, as he prepares to enter the final year of his current deal.

“This club’s been my home for so many years now and I want to repay the faith,” Leota told .

“They believed in me from the start, so I think that’s something that I want to do.”

Leota is among a host of Panthers players coming off contract at the end of 2027, including Liam Martin, Brian To'o and Isaah Yeo, setting up a critical retention period for the club.

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