The Canberra Raiders have firmly denied any ongoing pursuit of Penrith Panthers prop Moses Leota.
Leota's contract extends until the end of 2027, but he shook the NRL landscape earlier this year by gaining permission to explore opportunities beyond the Panthers prematurely.
This development coincided with Penrith's struggles related to an inflated salary cap and a considerable number of players, including stars like Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo, facing contract expirations at the conclusion of 2027.
Currently, Leota hasn't been presented with any substantial offer from the Panthers beyond his existing contract, and expectations suggest he will play the 2027 season with them without early negotiation privileges until the club assesses the situations of Cleary and Yeo.
The decision-making timeline for Cleary and Yeo is not expected to conclude before November 1, potentially diminishing Penrith's negotiating power with Leota, who seems inclined to remain with the club.
Recently, it was disclosed that six clubs, four of which were specified, have shown interest in signing Leota.
"We reported to them the interest from at least six clubs with the Raiders, Eels, Titans and Roosters leading the way, but we have to wait until they see what Cleary and Yeo are doing and how much money they have in the cap," said Leota's manager, Gavin Orr, during an interview with Wide World of Sports.
"They want to keep him and he wants to stay, but it all comes down to the cap."
Despite the speculation, Raiders CEO Don Furner dismissed the rumors, expressing confusion over their origins when speaking with The Canberra Times.