Tweed Heads Seagulls brothers Brayden and Glenn McGrady to join Penrith Panthers

TALENTED Tweed Heads brothers Brayden and Glenn McGrady have scored their big break, inking deals to join Penrith next season.

Brayden McGrady on the attack during Tweed’s win over Northern Pride. Picture: SMP Images

TALENTED Tweed Heads brothers Brayden and Glenn McGrady have scored their big break, inking deals to join Penrith next season.

The pair on Wednesday each signed two-year contracts that will see Brayden, 21, join the Panthers on a full-time basis and Glenn, 17, enter their under-20 program.

Penrith recruitment officer Jim Jones confirmed club supremo Phil Gould had himself conducted negotiations to secure the McGradys and is confident they can extract the best from them.

Player agent Sam Ayoub said the brothers, who are relatives of 1991 Rothmans Medal winner Ewan McGrady, had liked what they saw when given a tour of facilities.

“(Penrith) contacted me and expressed an interest and flew them down and showed them around,” Ayoub said.

Glenn McGrady ahead of Palm Beach Currumbin’s showdown with Keebra. Picture: Jerad Williams

“They have got a really good indigenous program there that Glen Liddiard runs at the Panthers. They were really happy about the set-up and the environment.

“They are good young players with good potential and obviously some natural talent and Penrith are prepared to back them.”

It is understood the Titans made a last-ditch play for the Goondiwindi products – both of whom have previously been in the Gold Coast system – but were too late.

It comes despite the Titans, who must still fill two spots on their roster before June 30, declaring their intentions to promote local talent.

Strike centre Brayden has enjoyed a blistering start to the Intrust Super Cup season, scoring 12 tries in seven games for the Seagulls.

His ISC mentor Ben Woolf also worked with him at his previous post as Gold Coast’s National Youth Competition coach and has witnessed significant progress.

“We spoke with our staff at the Titans 20s – he is one of the most talented kids we’d worked with in relation to his natural raw ability. He has got bucketloads of that,” Woolf said.

Glenn meanwhile has made his mark at fullback both in Tweed’s under-18 Mal Meninga Cup team and as part of the Palm Beach Currumbin High side that pipped Keebra Park 26-22 in the NRL Schoolboy Cup this month.

Tweed are shooting for six straight wins when they host Sunshine Coast at Piggabeen on Sunday afternoon. Konrad Hurrell will miss the clash, with Shaun Carney coming in at fullback and Brendan Elliot shifting to centre.