Matt Moylan has been ruled out of Penrith’s final-round NRL clash with Manly with an ongoing hamstring complaint.
Moylan was named on an extended bench for the match but, with the Panthers all but assured of a finals position, coach Anthony Griffin has opted not to risk him ahead of the playoffs.
It came as Panthers chief executive Brian Fletcher told News Corp Australia there was a 50-50 chance the club’s captain would not be there next season.
Fletcher also revealed the club would not stand in his way if he told the club he had been offered a better deal.
Moylan will have a meeting on Monday with Penrith general manager Phil Gould.
Gould insisted on Friday night he was not aware of an issue between the captain and the club.
“I haven’t heard that. Nothing has come across my desk of that nature,” Gould told the Nine Network.
Gould also denied claims the club would have to shop players around to fit under next season’s likely salary cap figure of $9.4 million.
“We’re not over the salary cap; we don’t have to shed players,” Gould said.
“There are no Panthers available.”