The Penrith Panthers are on the verge of a significant transition as several star players will be eligible to negotiate with other clubs starting November 1, unless the team takes action to re-sign them.
Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin, Brian To'o, Isaiah Papali'i, and Paul Alamoti are among the stars whose contracts extend until the end of 2027.
While Penrith aims to retain most of these exceptional players, managing the salary cap will be challenging due to the increasing value of their talents.
Papali'i has expressed his desire to remain at Penrith, with The Western Weekender noting his commitment to the club.
"I'm happy here - I've really enjoyed my year and a bit here and personally I've seen myself grow," he stated.
"I'd like to stay - I'm just leaving it up to my manager and making sure that I'm performing week-to-week so I have the opportunity to stay here."
Conscious of the impending free agency of their stars, the Panthers have begun securing promising talent from their development system.
This effort includes the re-signing of Ryan Cloey, who will take over as hooker for Mitch Kenny, agreeing to a three-year deal.
Additionally, Cordell Arama, a powerful player making strides through the Panthers' elite pathways, has also signed on through 2029.