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Penrith have given rookie sensation Charlie Staines permission to test the market, despite tabling the teenager an offer until the end of 2023.
It comes as Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's future at the Bulldogs comes under the microscope, with his name popping up at rival clubs after being dropped, despite the Kiwi international only re-signing with the Bulldogs over the summer on a deal worth about $700,000 a season until 2022. (WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
)
The Bulldogs, as well as Wests Tigers, are just a couple of clubs that have shown interest in acquiring the services of Staines, who has been offered an upgraded contract for next year by the Panthers, as well as an extension of the deal until 2023.
However, Staines' management indicated they wanted to wait until November 1 to allow the 19-year-old the chance to see what opportunities arose elsewhere given his path may be blocked by Dylan Edwards and Caleb Aekins at fullback at the high-flying Panthers.
The Panthers don't want to wait until the end of the year to sort out their salary cap and roster, and have subsequently granted Staines permission to begin discussions with rival clubs immediately. They are expected to return to the negotiating table later in the year.
Staines, who scored four tries on debut against Cronulla on the wing last month before being stood down for breaching the COVID-19 protocols, is considered one of the hottest young talents in the game, having starred throughout the juniors at fullback.
The table-topping Panthers want to retain his services despite having Edwards on the books until 2022, but know they may not be in a position to do so if rival clubs are able to offer him the No.1 jersey and come close to the $300,000-a-season deal he is after.
Staines was the Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2019, also making his reserve grade debut, during which he scored two tries and ran for close to 250 metres.
Veteran recruitment manager Mark Hughes, who signed Staines to the Panthers as a junior, has connections with the Bulldogs. The Dogs' chances of landing Staines are also aided by the signing of Panthers assistant Trent Barrett as head coach next year.
Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell has been trying to sign Staines since he was 15 and is also huge admirer of the Forbes Magpies junior. The Bulldogs and Tigers are unsure of who their No.1 will be next season, with Watene-Zelezniak's future at Belmore unclear. The Bulldogs signed Watene-Zelezniak on fullback money after an impressive showing for the club when he joined them from the Panthers midway through last year.
Unfortunately for Watene-Zelezniak, who started the season in the No.1 jersey, he has since been shifted to the centres and then out on to the wing before interim coach Steve Georgallis dumped him from last week's side against the Tigers.
The Tigers are also making plans to shift Adam Doueihi from fullback into five-eighth or centre next season, opening the door for the club to pursue Staines. The other fullback on the market is Melbourne Storm back-up Nico Hynes. Doueihi's future will also hinge on whether Benji Marshall decides to play on for another season or if co-captain Moses Mbye remains at the club.
www.smh.com.au
It comes as Dallin Watene-Zelezniak's future at the Bulldogs comes under the microscope, with his name popping up at rival clubs after being dropped, despite the Kiwi international only re-signing with the Bulldogs over the summer on a deal worth about $700,000 a season until 2022. (WTFFFFFFFFFFFFFF
)The Bulldogs, as well as Wests Tigers, are just a couple of clubs that have shown interest in acquiring the services of Staines, who has been offered an upgraded contract for next year by the Panthers, as well as an extension of the deal until 2023.
However, Staines' management indicated they wanted to wait until November 1 to allow the 19-year-old the chance to see what opportunities arose elsewhere given his path may be blocked by Dylan Edwards and Caleb Aekins at fullback at the high-flying Panthers.
The Panthers don't want to wait until the end of the year to sort out their salary cap and roster, and have subsequently granted Staines permission to begin discussions with rival clubs immediately. They are expected to return to the negotiating table later in the year.
Staines, who scored four tries on debut against Cronulla on the wing last month before being stood down for breaching the COVID-19 protocols, is considered one of the hottest young talents in the game, having starred throughout the juniors at fullback.
The table-topping Panthers want to retain his services despite having Edwards on the books until 2022, but know they may not be in a position to do so if rival clubs are able to offer him the No.1 jersey and come close to the $300,000-a-season deal he is after.
Staines was the Jersey Flegg player of the year in 2019, also making his reserve grade debut, during which he scored two tries and ran for close to 250 metres.
Veteran recruitment manager Mark Hughes, who signed Staines to the Panthers as a junior, has connections with the Bulldogs. The Dogs' chances of landing Staines are also aided by the signing of Panthers assistant Trent Barrett as head coach next year.
Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell has been trying to sign Staines since he was 15 and is also huge admirer of the Forbes Magpies junior. The Bulldogs and Tigers are unsure of who their No.1 will be next season, with Watene-Zelezniak's future at Belmore unclear. The Bulldogs signed Watene-Zelezniak on fullback money after an impressive showing for the club when he joined them from the Panthers midway through last year.
Unfortunately for Watene-Zelezniak, who started the season in the No.1 jersey, he has since been shifted to the centres and then out on to the wing before interim coach Steve Georgallis dumped him from last week's side against the Tigers.
The Tigers are also making plans to shift Adam Doueihi from fullback into five-eighth or centre next season, opening the door for the club to pursue Staines. The other fullback on the market is Melbourne Storm back-up Nico Hynes. Doueihi's future will also hinge on whether Benji Marshall decides to play on for another season or if co-captain Moses Mbye remains at the club.
Panthers give Staines permission to test market as Tigers and Dogs circle
One of the game's brightest young stars could be on the move, with Penrith granting him permission to look elsewhere.
