Penrith are weighing up whether to leave Matt Moylan out of their squad to face Brisbane and later apply for an exemption from the NRL.
Moylan hasn’t trained with the Panthers since he was granted personal leave by the club’s management last Monday, and is currently undergoing counselling.
Already under intense media spotlight, it’s understood the Panthers are concerned about placing further undue pressure on the 26-year-old by naming him to play on Tuesday afternoon.
However, under the NRL’s team list guidelines introduced this year, only players named in a club’s squad of 21 on Tuesday can be played as part of the final 17 on the following weekend.
Players can only be brought into the squad when granted a special exemption by the NRL, usually in the case of any injury to a specialist position player.
Whether the NRL would grant that exception for Moylan ahead of Friday night’s semi-final is uncertain.
The fullback-turned-five-eighth has also battled a constant hamstring injury, which had already threatened to rule him out of any further action in this year’s finals series.
He played just two of the Panthers’ past six games, and is understood to be continuing his rehabilitation away from the main squad.
If he does not play, Penrith will still have adequate back up in the key positions with fullback Dylan Edwards and No.6 Tyrone May playing roles in the Panthers’ 22-10 elimination final victory over Manly on Saturday.