Panthers star to exit despite 'substantial offer'

1 year ago 71

Another of Penrith's superstars is acceptable to the permission the club, with a connection confirming that Stephen Crichton's 2023 run with the Panthers would beryllium his last.

"Penrith Panthers tin corroborate that the nine was notified overnight by Stephen Crichton's absorption radical that helium volition beryllium seeking opportunities elsewhere successful 2024," a nine connection read.

"Contrary to media reports, the nine made a important connection successful May 2022 for Stephen to stay astatine the Panthers and were disappointed the nine could not scope an statement astatine that constituent successful time."

FOLLOW LIVE: Australian Open 2023 time one

Crichton debuted successful 2019 and has been a mainstay successful the Penrith backline since bursting onto the country successful 2020, ending that run by being named centre of the year, earlier scoring the winning effort successful the expansive last a twelvemonth later.

"It was the hardest determination to make, but present my afloat absorption is connected the 2023 play and finishing my clip astatine Panthers arsenic beardown arsenic I can," Crichton said.

"It's going to beryllium pugnacious to permission my teammates, but we volition person our accidental to marque much memories this year. I cognize my friendships astatine Panthers won't decorativeness present but volition past forever."

The nine said that negotiations were enactment connected clasp arsenic uncertainty lingered implicit the wage headdress going forward.

"Although Panthers is disappointed by the outcome, the nine respects Stephen's decision, and understands the concern is exacerbated by wage headdress unit based connected the club's caller success," CEO Matt Cameron said.

"The nine acknowledgment Stephen for his efforts and is looking guardant to seeing him correspond the Panthers for the remainder of the 2023 NRL season."

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!