The Penrith Panthers are no strangers to roster turnover, but as they prepare for the 2026 NRL campaign, the vibe at training feels notably different. After a 2025 season that functioned as a rollercoaster—climbing from a dead-last position after 12 rounds to a gutsy preliminary final appearance—the club has opted for a surgical “refresh” of its playing ranks. According to co-captain Isaah Yeo, the influx of new faces has provided a “breath of fresh air” for a squad looking to reclaim its place at the pinnacle of the sport.
While the core of Penrith’s “Best 17” remains remarkably stable, the auxiliary layers of the squad have undergone a significant overhaul. The club has bid farewell to ten players who largely occupied the fringes of the first-grade side in 2025. This departure list includes names like Brad Schneider, Daine Laurie, Luke Sommerton, and Mavrik Geyer, alongside promising youngsters such as Zack Lamont and Riley Price.
Raiding the Warriors: A Strategic Talent Grab
The most intriguing aspect of Ivan Cleary’s recruitment strategy for 2026 was a focused “raid” on the New Zealand Warriors. Following the Warriors’ dominant NSW Cup premiership and State Championship double in 2025, Penrith moved quickly to secure the architects of that success.
The arrival of forwards Tom Ale and Kalani Going, along with versatile hooker Freddy Lussick, injects a winning pedigree into the Panthers’ depth chart. Speaking on SEN 1170 Breakfast, Yeo was candid about the club’s approach to the Kiwi pipeline.
“We haven’t lost many from our main 1 to 17, but we’ve had a real refresh in our boys underneath it,” Yeo said. “We signed a lot of the New Zealand Warriors’ NSW Cup side; we pretty much just raided them after the success they’ve just had. It’s brought a real sense of new energy and freshness to the group.”
The Return of a Familiar Face
Adding to the sense of renewal is the homecoming of Jack Cogger. After a stint with the Newcastle Knights that didn’t quite reach the heights of his previous premiership-winning cameo with Penrith, Cogger returns to fill a vital utility role. His familiarity with the Panthers’ complex “out the back” structures is expected to provide an immediate safety net for halves Nathan Cleary and Blaize Talagi.
Building for the Long Haul
The 2025 season served as a wake-up call for the perennial heavyweights. After winning just three of their first 11 games, the Panthers were forced into a “brutal honesty session” that sparked a nine-game winning streak. By refreshing the “second tier” of the squad with hungry, premiership-winning talent from the reserve grades, Ivan Cleary is ensuring that the standards at training remain sky-high.
Yeo believes the blend of battle-hardened veterans and eager newcomers is the perfect formula for 2026. “There’s certainly a different feel in the group at the moment,” Yeo noted. “In previous years, we lost marquee stars. This time, the change has come from the boys on the cusp of first grade. It’s exciting to see that younger energy coming through.”
As the Panthers look ahead to their Round 1 blockbuster against the Brisbane Broncos, the message is clear: the dynasty isn’t over; it’s simply been recharged.