Panthers hoping to offload $500k prodigy

According to The Daily Telegraph, the Panthers are eager to let Staines leave before his contract expires at the end of 2023.The Panthers have contacted several rival clubs to offer his services for next season, according to the News Corp report.Stream every game of every round of the 2022 NRL Telstra Premiership Season Live & Ad-Break Free During Play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >Staines was earmarked as the club’s future fullback two years ago — the Panthers secured his services on a $500,000 deal when the Canterbury Bulldogs tried to poach him.The youngster scored four tries on NRL debut against the St George Illawarra Dragons in 2020, diving over 20 times in his first 23 games — mostly while on the wing.But after being left out of Penrith’s side for the 2021 grand final against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Staines has scored just two tries in 13 games for the Panthers this season.Dylan Edwards has since established himself as one of the best fullbacks in the competition, and the emergence of Panthers backs Taylan May and Sunia Turuv has left Staines on the outer at the club.The 21-year-old is now essentially serving as the Panthers’ reserve winger, hardly validating his $500,000 salary.Stephen Crichton, Liam Martin and Brian To’o are all off contract at the end of 2023, and securing their signature would be a priority for the reigning premiers.Staines has previously been linked to the Wests Tigers, and the Panthers would not stand in their way if they tried sign him for 2023.Meanwhile, the Dragons have rejected skipper Ben Hunt’s request to have his contract extension tied to coach Anthony Griffin’s future at the embattled club.The Sydney Morning Herald reported Hunt’s bid to have his two-year extension for 2024 and 2025 linked to Griffin’s future, whose deal expires at the end of 2023, was shut down.Hunt’s management tried to align Hunt’s two year deal with a potential extension for Griffin, but the club said they would not consider the scenario.The development is a huge sign the Dragons remain unsure if Griffin is the right man to coach the club long-term.The Dragons only signed Griffin to a one-year extension at the start of the 2022 season and rumours persist the club may go in a different direction after they failed to make the finals for the second straight year under Griffin.Hunt was recently low-balled with a $700,000 a season extension offer, but reports suggest the club will up that offer to $875,000 in a bid to ward off rival clubs from poaching their captain.However, it remains to be seen if Hunt will sign with the uncertainty surrounding who will coach the club raging on.— with foxsports.com.au Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au