Trent Merrin’s time at Penrith is over with two seasons still to run on his contract after he inked a deal to join English Super League club Leeds immediately.
The Rhinos confirmed Merrin’s arrival on Thursday evening, after it’s believed he first baulked at the prospect of heading to England earlier this month.
However the prospect of the long-term security of a four-year deal with Leeds has finally won out, with the Panthers granting him a release from the NRL club.
“I have done everything I possibly could in the NRL and this is a great opportunity for me to come to a great club with a fantastic culture and hopefully achieve some goals together,” Merrin said in a Leeds statement.
“It is good to have clarity about my future, I am looking forward to coming to a new country, stepping outside of my comfort zone and being part of something special with Leeds.
“There is a lot I still want to achieve. I want to put my best foot forward and, when I eventually come back home, I want to be able to look back on a special period in my life.”
Merrin, who played 13 Origin games for NSW between 2011 and 2015, and seven times for Australia between 2015 and 2017, will link with former Canberra coach and Kangaroos assistant David Furner, who will take over the Rhinos next season.
Originally pursued and signed by the club during Ivan Cleary’s first stint in charge at the Panthers, he will become the first player to exit under the returning coach.
However he joins a long list of mid-contract departures from the club in the past 18 months, including Matt Moylan, Bryce Cartwright, Tyrone Peachey and Leilani Latu.
Merrin was one of the club’s biggest-name arrivals in 2016, but his numbers were down in 2018 as his playing minutes were reduced and he spent time in the front row rotation.
The move will help the Panthers look to secure their seemingly never-ending string of up-and-coming stars, as they battle the salary cap ramifications which come with their rising values.
Kiwi international James Fisher-Harris is the biggest name player off contract at the end of next year, with the Panthers understood to be keen to secure him under their cap.
“Trent Merrin has given our club three years of outstanding service, both on and off the field,” Panthers supremo Phil Gould said.
“Panthers played finals football in each of the three seasons he spent at the club. Apart from the tremendous football he has played, Trent has been instrumental in mentoring the careers of a number of our young players.
“We wish Trent well with his new challenge in the English Super League. Leeds has secured itself a very good man.”
