Penrith continued their recruitment drive on Friday when they announced North Queensland hooker James Segeyaro will join the NRL club on a three-year deal from 2013.

The new contract provided a timely boost for the 21-year-old after he was earlier this month ruled out for the rest of the season with an ankle syndesmosis injury suffered in the Cowboys’ loss to Gold Coast.

Segeyaro’s signing clouds the future of Kevin Kingston, the club’s incumbent 80-minute hooker who recently took over the captaincy reins from Panthers veteran Luke Lewis.

Penrith are in the midst of a major overhaul of their playing roster due to salary cap pressures, with star back Michael Gordon already committing to Cronulla next season and NSW centre Michael Jennings reportedly being shopped around to rival clubs.

PNG-born Segeyaro is the third signing the Panthers have made in the past month after Melbourne forward Sika Manu and Manly utility Dean Whare revealed they’ll be joining the Ivan Cleary-coached side in 2013.

“James is an energetic young player with a great deal of potential,” said Penrith general manager rugby league Phil Moss.