Ivan Cleary has refused to answer the $2.5 million question about David Fifita‘s potential future with the Panthers.
Reports emerged on Sunday afternoon that the Titans star was to begin negotiations with Penrith and was scheduled to meet with club officials and Ivan Cleary on Monday.
It has since emerged that Fifita has been tabled a three-year deal worth over $2.5 million by the club, reports 9News and The Sydney Morning Herald journalist Michael Chammas.
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The three-time premiership-winning coach spoke with the media on Monday afternoon, stating that he would not be commenting on any recruitment speculation.
“Respectfully, I’m not going to comment on recruitment today,” Cleary told reporters.
“It’s obviously a very sensitive issue, all recruitment. It affects a lot of people, clubs, players, agents, and families.
“I think we’ve already filled our quota for recruitment stories this year so I’m not going to discuss it today.
“I’m sorry if you came out here just for that [question] but I’m not talking about it today.”
With a stacked list of departures over the past four years – with Sunia Turuva, James Fisher-Harris, and Jarome Luai all leaving the club at the end of the current season – it could be the beginning of the end for one of the greatest teams of the modern era.
The Panthers have found themselves looking through the market for the first time in four years, with the club hoping to recruit depth and experience into their line-up.
Cleary admitted Penrith got their recruitment balance “a little bit wrong” last season but hopes he can help “evolve” the team in the right direction for 2025.
“It is different [going back to the market],” he said.
“It’s been probably four years I reckon but still we are always looking for other players too. So it’s not that different.
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“We are always looking to evolve, that’s the challenge – especially when you’re losing players. If you just stay the same, you’re going to get passed.
“There’s always a danger if you do that too much. You lose track of what you’re good at. It’s a bit of a balance… we got that a little bit wrong early last year,” Cleary continued.
“It’s always fun as a coach with the group to work out how that looks. I’m looking forward to doing that as we go.
“Our mandate at the club is to build from within so we spend a lot of time, money and effort in that regard – and we still will.
“But from time to time if you don’t have that then you’ve got to look outside.”
Penrith will compete with some familiar faces on Friday night as they take on the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, who are captained by former Panther Stephen Crichton.
Cleary was asked if the departures of Crichton, Viliame Kikau, and Matt Burton hurt less now that the Panthers have three premierships under their belt, to which he replied: “Probably.
“It’s [a feeling of] pride definitely but as I said, in my heart I would love all those boys to still be playing here, but we would have about three teams then so we can’t do it.
“A few years ago it probably hurt more but now I’m just feeling good for them.
“The good thing is that everyone that has left played out their last year here and we’ve had some amazing experiences and memories.”