Clock Ticking: Martin Sets Deadline for Contract Negotiations with Panthers

Liam Martin, the Penrith Panthers' second-rower, has issued a clear ultimatum regarding his contract negotiations.

He has informed the club that an agreement must be reached by next week, or he will enter the open market come November 1.

As one of several Panthers players set to be off-contract by the end of 2027, his situation is becoming critical.

The club has recently made progress in addressing their off-contract roster by securing a new deal with Paul Alamoti and is nearing an agreement with Isaiah Papali'i.

However, the three pivotal players they aim to retain-Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, and Martin-remain unsigned.

This dilemma arises from Penrith's constrained salary cap.

While there's been a slight easing following the announcement that veteran winger Brian To'o will join the PNG Chiefs in 2028, it may not suffice to facilitate upgrades for Yeo, Cleary, and Martin, especially with substantial contracts already in place.

Martin has been integral to Penrith's success and is a recipient of the Clive Churchill Medal, meaning he would attract significant interest on the open market.

The PNG Chiefs, having established a strong backline, are in urgent need of forwards.

Allan Gainey, Martin's manager, shared insights with News Corp, mentioning that Martin has previously accepted less to remain with Penrith, but this will not be the case now.

"We will meet with Penrith next Tuesday. We'll see what they put forward. We know what figure hits the right mark," Gainey stated.

He further added, "If we can't find common ground, we won't get into negotiations; we will go to November 1 and see what happens."