Liam Martin Can Talk to Brisbane and Cronulla From 1 November After Putting Penrith Talks on Hold
Brisbane and Cronulla are watching to see whether Liam Martin goes to market on 1 November, according to News Corp as reported by Fox Sports on Saturday. The Penrith and Kangaroos back-rower put contract talks with the Panthers on hold in August.
His deal runs to the end of 2027, which is what makes him free to negotiate with rivals from the start of next month. Under the NRL’s rules, 1 November is the day players entering the last year of their contracts become free agents.
The reported asking price
Martin is 29. His management has reportedly asked Penrith to make him a $1 million-a-season player, and he wants a three-year extension, Fox Sports reported.
There is a counter-view. Player agent Steve Gillis said on a podcast last month that he was hearing Martin was closer to re-signing with Penrith than leaving. Both things can be true: a player can prefer to stay and still let the date arrive to see what the market says.
Why Penrith cannot just pay it
The Panthers have a queue. Co-captains Nathan Cleary and Isaah Yeo both need extensions, and Fox Sports reported those are the club’s main priorities, with Moses Leota also to be signed. Martin is thought to be ahead of Leota. Fox Sports described Penrith as very disciplined with the salary cap.
That queue has got harder this month. Cleary is out of the World Cup with the leg he broke in the preliminary final, and Yeo is captaining Australia while carrying a torn pectoral he has not had repaired. A club negotiating with two injured captains has less certainty about what it is paying for.
The same date as Bostock
Martin is not the only Kangaroo with 1 November in the diary. Jack Bostock, who scored a hat-trick on debut against New Zealand, is in the same position at the Dolphins, and Kristian Woolf has said he is confident of keeping him.
Martin is in Kevin Walters’ World Cup squad, so any talks will happen while he is in camp. Australia play Fiji at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday 25 October.
Penrith’s run of four titles ended in 2025, and this year they lost the preliminary final to Newcastle. The story of their 2026 season explains why the next round of contracts matters.
