90% confident: Panthers legend's big call on keeping stars

Having dominated the NRL for the entirety of the 2020s, 2027 is shaping to be a crunch time for the Panthers with several of their premiership stars coming out of contract.

Some of those names include Nathan Cleary, Brian To’o, Isaah Yeo, Isaiah Papali’i, Liam Martin and Moses Leota, just to name a few.

That news also coincides with next season being coach Ivan Cleary’s final year in charge, in what will be his ninth season in charge, leaving many to believe it will be one final hurrah for the side.

But according to Panthers’ legend and the club’s deputy chairman Greg Alexander, the band could remain together beyond the end of next season.

When asked by Corey Parker on SENQ Breakfast and SEN 1170’s Kick Off about the likelihood of being able to keep these stars, the Panthers first premiership captain is quietly confident of being able to retain the majority of their core.

Parker: “You've been able to tie up some players for the next few years.”

“But obviously the big talking points around the big players.”

Alexander: “You mean Nathan (Cleary) (and) Isaah (Yeo)?”

Parker: “Cleary, Yeo, Isaiah (Papali’i), throw (Brian) To’o into that, Liam Martin into that.”

 “Are you succumbing to the fact that maybe, just maybe they may be looking elsewhere, maybe internationally around PNG?”

Alexander: “No, we're just working through it, Coz.”

 Parker: “Right, and if you were a betting man in terms of that, how confident would you be (or retaining them)?”

Alexander: “What do you want me to give you a score out of 100?”

Jimmy Smith: “I want a score out of 100. How confident are you?”

Alexander: “90 (per cent).”

Smith: “90… ooh, who's the 10%?”

Ian Healy: “What of keeping them all? Is that what you're saying?”

Alexander: “Yeah, that's what I'm saying.”

The Panthers are off to Mudgee this week as they take on the Raiders in a rematch of last year’s epic golden point loss.

The match begins at 5:30pm AEST.