Panthers to have Matt Moylan, James Maloney swap finalised by Monday
PENRITH have confirmed the $6 million player swap between Panthers skipper Matt Moylan and Cronulla star James Maloney will be finalised as early as Monday.
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MARKET MOVE: Sharks, Panthers set for Maloney, Moylan swap
PENRITH CEO Brian Fletcher has confirmed the $6 million player swap between Panthers skipper Matt Moylan and Cronulla star James Maloney will be finalised as early as Monday.
As revealed in the Daily Telegraph, Moylan and Maloney will swap clubs in a move that could spark significant change in the player transfer market.
There are still several salary cap and contract issues, including third party, to be resolved before the deals can be approved and finalised by the NRL.
It’s understood Moylan will link with the Sharks on a four-year $3.6 million deal, while Maloney would make Penrith his sixth club in a three-year $2.5 million move.
Fletcher said both deals should be rubber-stamped by the NRL next week.
“We are working towards a deadline of Monday,” Fletcher said.
“It hasn’t been done yet and a couple of things have to be tied up.
“It is not over the line yet, but it is looking like it will get there.”
Fletcher’s confirmation of Moylan’s departure from Penrith brings an end to his saga at the club dating back to late last season when he was rested for the remainder of the year to deal with personal issues.
The 26-year-old, who is contracted until the end of 2020, has been unhappy at the Panthers for the past six months after struggling to get along with coach Anthony Griffin.
Penrith officials have denied a rift exists between player and coach, but sources close to Moylan insist the pair have a fractured relationship.
It is believed Moylan wants play in the halves next season at Cronulla alongside premiership-winning halfback Chad Townsend.
Penrith were believed to be asking for a transfer fee of around $250,000 for rival clubs to sign Moylan, but they could now waive that given they’ve signed Maloney.
Moylan’s move to Cronulla would end the club’s interest in disgruntled Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce, who is weighing up his future at Bondi following the signing of Melbourne champion Cooper Cronk.
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If Pearce decides to leave, Manly would be his first-choice club to join. The Sea Eagles are willing to release five-eighth Blake Green to the Warriors on a three-year deal, which would open the door the Pearce.