Penrith Panthers Secure Young Talent from Queensland
The Penrith Panthers have made a significant move in the rugby league landscape by signing 19-year-old prop forward Camden Hopes. The young talent, hailing from the backyard of the Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys, has been a standout performer for the Mackay Cutters. This acquisition marks a major blow for the Queensland NRL clubs, as Hopes is set to make an immediate move to Sydney.
Hopes was recently named the Cutters’ forward of the year and has impressed with his performances in the Queensland Cup this season. Although the Cutters are a feeder club for the North Queensland Cowboys, this signing means the Brisbane Broncos have also missed out on a player from their own local area.
Hopes was previously under contract with the Cowboys but faced a challenging period due to a series of injuries, including a fractured skull. In March, Cutters coach Andrew Battaia commented on Hopes’ progress: “He’s due some luck and has got himself super fit and done a lot of work on his speed and leg drive. He’s a real leader.”
Tom Jenkins Re-Signs with Panthers
This signing comes just days after the Panthers re-signed try-scoring winger Thomas Jenkins. The 25-year-old agreed to a new three-year deal that will keep him at the club until the end of 2029. Jenkins’ re-signing is a big boost for the Panthers, especially during a period of uncertainty.
Several key players, including Nathan Cleary, Isaah Yeo, Brian To’o, Paul Alamoti, and Liam Martin, are set to be out of contract at the end of 2027. They are expected to test the open market from November this year, which could impact the team’s future plans.
Jenkins shared his thoughts on the re-signing: “There were definitely a few (other clubs) that I was heavily considering, especially when the talks were breaking down here. I won’t name them out of respect for them.”
“There’s a bit of a salary cap squeeze here. As much as money’s not a massive deal-breaker, there does come a time when you’ve sort of got to understand value and what you probably deserve. But there’s also a price to pay when you’re staying at good clubs like Penrith that suited myself and also suited the club.”
“I obviously have faith in my manager and had faith in the club that we’d be able to get a deal done. But in saying that, there was probably a few days there, a few weeks there, where I wasn’t too sure where I would end up.”
Jenkins has been a prolific scorer this season, having already crossed the line 20 times in just 13 games. With 12 games remaining, he is in a strong position to break the 91-year-old record for most tries in a single season, which stands at 38 by Dave Brown in 1935.
