Penrith have set their sights on locking New Zealand Test forward James Fisher-Harris in long-term after releasing Trent Merrin to the English Super League.
Fisher-Harris is the Panthers’ biggest name player off contract for the end of 2019, and it can be revealed talks have already begun with the 22-year-old to stay at Penrith.
Last re-signed in 2016 when he’d only played a handful of matches, Fisher-Harris’ value has since sky-rocketed after playing five Tests for the Kiwis and developing into one of Penrith’s best forwards.
But chief executive Brian Fletcher is confident the club would be able to keep him.
“He’s come through the system as a young age and put him through the grades. We’ve turned him into a superstar footballer and unfortunately now he’s worth a lot of money,” he told AAP.
“They (other clubs) have just seen him play, he’s a Test forward now as well. But he loves the place and has come through the system. He’s got a home out here and a young family.
“I know he doesn’t want to go anywhere but at the end of the day it could come down to dollars with the decision he’s got to make but I’m pretty certain he will be staying.”
Fletcher also confirmed the Panthers have opened negotiations to keep young half Jarome Luai at the club, who is seen as the logical successor to James Maloney at five-eighth.
The 21-year-old had an impressive debut against the Warriors earlier this year, and is also off contract at the end of 2019 alongside firebrand forward Jack Hetherington and hooker Sione Katoa.
Luai and Fisher-Harris’ contract situations represent a problem the club is often faced with given their burgeoning junior talent.
The quicker-than-expected rise of players has often placed pressure on their cap, no matter how far in advance it has been planned.
They have spent the past two years moving players around to ensure they had the cap space to make an offer to halfback Nathan Cleary, who recently extended his stay on a mega five-year deal until the end of 2024.
Reagan Campbell-Gillard (2024), Waqa Blake (2023) and Josh Mansour (2021) have also re-signed on longer-term deals, but it’s come at the expense of Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Cartwright, Leilani Latu and Merrin who have all been released mid-contract.
Former captain Matt Moylan was also released as part of a swap with James Maloney last summer.
“You’re all the time at the system balancing the cap and you’ve got to be working ahead of yourself,” Fletcher said.
