Mitch Kenny Signing Interest: Penrith Panthers Circle Off-Contract Hooker

Mitch Kenny — early mail, treat it gently.

Zero Tackle reported on 5 July that Kenny is weighing up his options ahead of what shapes as a significant decision on his immediate future, with Penrith in the frame as the hooker heads toward the end of his current deal.

The dynamics stack up well enough to take seriously. Kenny is one of a cluster of players coming off-contract in 2026, and the Panthers have a well-documented habit of identifying utility-forward depth early — particularly in the dummy-half channel, where roster turnover can bite clubs that leave it late. Whether Penrith’s interest has moved beyond a quiet look is the part that remains unconfirmed.

The wrinkle worth watching, per Zero Tackle, is reported interest from PNG — which adds a left-field variable to any contract calculus. Stranger things have happened than a player fielding genuine overseas money using it to squeeze better terms from an NRL club, or simply taking the less obvious road.

At 25% probability, this one’s a long way from settled. There’s genuine interest, per Zero Tackle, but the decision appears to be Kenny’s to make, and the full picture of who else is at the table isn’t clear yet.

Reported/unconfirmed — interest state only.