NRL Market Watch: Penrith Panthers poach Brisbane Broncos gun and under-19s Origin star Harry Armstrong

The Panthers have landed a blow across the border to the Broncos by poaching one of rugby league’s best up-and-coming forwards on a long-term deal.

The Panthers have poached Harry Armstrong from the Broncos. Picture: NRL Imagery

A tour of Penrith’s training facilities during the club’s finals campaign last year has helped the Panthers poach Brisbane young gun Harry Armstrong in a blow to Michael Maguire’s Broncos.

In a huge pre-season signing coup, the Panthers have snared one of rugby league’s best forward prospects on a three-year deal, effective immediately, bolstering coach Ivan Cleary’s forward stocks ahead of the 2025 season.

Armstrong, 20, had been part of Brisbane’s emerging squad and a rising star of the Red Hill club’s pathways system, where he was viewed as a future leader of the Broncos’ engine room.

It’s understood the Broncos were eager to retain the Queensland under-19s star but a visit to Penrith’s centre of excellence during the side’s finals campaign late last year helped seal the deal for the four-time title winners.

Armstrong was given a tour of the club’s training facilities at the foot of the mountains and the opportunity to observe coach Cleary’s squad train during an on-field session in Penrith, where the club’s culture and coaching set-up left a huge impression on the youngster.

Armstrong, who joined the Broncos as a 17-year-old, is a hard hitting back rower, standing at 190cm and tipping the scales at 94kg.

Harry Armstrong representing Queensland under-19s. Picture: NRL Imagery

Harry Armstrong in action for Wynumm Manly. Picture: Wynumm Manly Seagulls Instagram

Armstrong, who captained the Wynnum Manly Seagulls in the Mal Meninga Cup (under-18s), is Cleary’s second major forward pack signing for 2025.

The club also added former Parramatta and Wests Tigers back rower Isaiah Papali’i to the top-30 roster on a three-year deal.

While Armstrong is not likely to come into contention for selection in Round 1 against Cronulla in Las Vegas, Cleary will give the youngster every chance to crack into the NRL side.

Hardman Liam Martin and Papali’i are set to start the season in the back row with Scott Sorensen and Luke Garner on the bench.

There is a view Martin could step into the front row position vacated by powerhouse prop James Fisher-Harris, who was granted a release to join the Warriors from 2025 on a four-year deal.

But boom prop Lindsay Smith, who was rewarded with selection in the Kangaroos squad for last year’s Pacific Championships, is set to get first crack at prop alongside Moses Leota.

The Panthers also moved to secure fellow rising prop Luron Patea, 20, long-term, locking in the local junior on a top-30 deal until the end of 2027 as Cleary looks to shore up Penrith’s engine room long-term.

Originally published as NRL Market Watch: Penrith Panthers poach Brisbane Broncos gun and under-19s Origin star Harry Armstrong