The Penrith Panthers confirmed that six players will leave the club at their end-of-season awards night on Tuesday, after losing to the Knights in the preliminary final.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs and the Perth Bears remain the biggest winners, receiving almost every player who is confirmed to be leaving the Western Sydney-based club.
Jack Cole, Liam Henry and Scott Sorensen will all head west to the Perth Bears, who are preparing for their first season.
Cole and Henry spoke to Zero Tackle exclusively about why they signed with the Bears as they continue their careers together.
Since he was a teenager, Cole has been with the Panthers and made his NRL debut with Henry in 2022, when they both scored a try in their first game.
Cole signed a three-year deal until the end of 2029, while Henry signed a four-year deal until the end of 2030.
Henry and Sorensen are both premiership winners and give Mal Meninga some winning pedigree in its inaugural side.
Sorensen joined the Panthers in 2021 and became a crucial part of the side as the club won four in a row.
The 165-game veteran signed a two-year deal with the Bears, with his contract finishing at the end of the 2028 season.
He leaves Penrith with 126 games for the club after playing 37 for the Cronulla Sharks across 2014 and 2018-2020 and two for the Canberra Raiders in 2017.
Hooker Freddy Lussick will join the Bulldogs for the next two seasons, with the Belmore-based club officially confirming the signing on Tuesday afternoon.
He signed a one-year deal with the Panthers after leaving the New Zealand Warriors, and played a big role this season when Mitch Kenny was injured in April and didn't return until the end of the season.
Jesse McLean has only made four appearances since debuting for the Panthers in 2023 and will join Lussick at Belmore.
Once touted as the better brother compared to Casey, Jesse boosts the Bulldogs' backline stocks and has a better opportunity to play first grade after being a NSW Cup star.
Prop Toby Crosby agreed to a Super League move, signing with the Warrington Wolves for 2027.
Crosby joined Penrith ahead of this season after winning the NSW Cup and State Championship with the New Zealand Warriors.
He will leave Penrith with another NSW Cup premiership and play under coach Sam Burgess, who led his side to the Super League Grand Final.
Penrith have not officially confirmed signings for next season, but Liam Le Blanc from the South Sydney Rabbitohs and Jett Cleary from the New Zealand Warriors are expected to join for 2027.
Two players remain off-contract, with Tom Ale and Kalani Leuluai-Going still unsigned for 2027.
With Jesse McLean being bought out of his deal with the Panthers, which had two years remaining, there are eight spots in the top 30 remaining for next season.
