Source :- THE AGE NEWS
Canterbury have landed a significant retention blow, with rising star Jacob Preston to remain at the club on a new four-year deal as Liam Martin and the Panthers pause talks on a potential contract extension.
The Bulldogs on Tuesday night confirmed Preston and the club had agreed to an upgraded, long-term deal after months of protracted negotiations.
Preston’s management had recently publicly raised the prospect of taking the 24-year-old to market on November 1. But sources have indicated an improved offer that totals around $3 million across the length of the deal was enough to keep Preston at Belmore until the end of 2031.
Penrith officials, meanwhile, met with Martin’s manager Allan Gainey on Tuesday, and agreed to hold fire on further negotiations until after the conclusion of the Panthers’ season – ideally with a fifth premiership in six years.
Martin, 29, is seeking a three-year deal that would tie him to Penrith until the end of 2030.
Sources speaking on the condition of anonymity given the confidential nature of the matter have indicated the Panthers are open to that length of deal for Martin, while a two-year deal was also discussed.
However, the dollar amount of any potential offer is still in flux given superstar halfback Nathan Cleary is yet to begin any meaningful extension talks of his own.
Fellow co-captain Isaah Yeo is closing in on a deal beyond 2027 which, as revealed by this masthead, is a good chance of being locked in before the finals kick off in a fortnight.
The Panthers won’t employ a hard-and-fast shutdown on contract negotiations once the post-season starts, but will prioritise their premiership tilt over the next six weeks.
“Talks were productive,” Gainey said of Tuesday’s meeting with Panthers general manager Shane Elford and chief executive Matt Cameron.
“Both parties are mindful of the timing and potential distractions around upcoming finals.
“We are confident we can get to a mutually beneficial position once Panthers have finished their commitments for 2026.”
The Panthers have had several retention wins recently despite losing star winger Brian To’o (PNG Chiefs) and Liam Henry, Scott Sorensen and Jack Cole (Perth Bears) to the NRL’s incoming clubs.
Back-rower Isaiah Papali’i has recommitted on a yet-to-be-announced two-year extension, while centre Paul Alamoti has also re-signed until the end of 2029.
Rising NSW Origin star Casey McLean was also extended until the end of 2030 last week.
Cleary said last week he is not ready to address his future, and is yet to confirm privately or publicly whether he wants to re-sign before the November 1 free agency date or test his value on the open market.
Sources close to the champion No.7 have indicated the lack of clarity does not necessarily point to an exit from Penrith, despite the Chiefs making Cleary their halfback priority if he comes off-contract.
Martin’s market value, along with fellow off-contract Panthers star Moses Leota, has been a source of intrigue given PNG’s entry to the market, predictions of a 15 per cent rise in the salary cap and a spate of public brinksmanship between managers and clubs of late.
Along with Canberra’s Hudson Young (29), Martin is the most accomplished back-rower coming off-contract in 2027.
Despite being tabled a $3.3 million, three-year offer – the largest in Canberra’s history – Young will be granted permission to negotiate with PNG next month as he and the Raiders look to bring his future to a head.
