Daine Laurie showed his class with a couple of terrific try-saving tackles and a double cut-out pass for Penrith’s only try on Thursday night, but the livewire fullback could be squeezed out at the end of the season.
Laurie, 26, doesn’t have a deal for 2026 and is “open to anything” next year, with the fullback hoping to have his future sorted before the end of the season when the Panthers could be contending for their fifth title in a row.
He joined the club in 2017 and was named their Jersey Flegg player of the year the following season before he was eventually given a shot in the NRL in 2020.
But he left in 2021 for more opportunities at the Wests Tigers where he had some nice moments but always wanted to return to Penrith where he felt most comfortable.
Daine Laurie produced a brilliant tackle to deny Connor Tracey a certain try on Thursday night. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images
That led to his return in 2024 and he’s played several different roles but hasn’t been able to play his preferred position at fullback given NSW and Australian star Dylan Edwards has the jersey locked up until the day he retires.
His desire is to stay at the club he loves, but Laurie is open to a move elsewhere if a starting position becomes available.
“Well, that’s definitely the goal,” he replied when asked if he felt he was good enough to be a starting fullback.
“It’s obviously hard sitting behind ‘Dyl’ and all the boys there – we’ve got world-class players at the Panthers. It’s awesome every time I get an opportunity, I try and put my best foot forward. If I get the opportunity again, I’ll do the same thing.
“I’m just going to take it day by day. My manager is going to sort all that stuff out. I’m just going to rip in for the Panthers and hopefully they can give me one more year.
“I’m open to anything, whatever’s best for myself and my missus. We’ll go from there.”
Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo praised Laurie’s defence for keeping the score tight in Canterbury’s 28-4 win on Thursday, while Penrith boss Ivan Cleary spruiked his fullback for what he’s provided during his two stints.
“Daine’s been a big part of our club. I certainly would want to see him stay. I love ‘Daino’. He was awesome tonight,” he said.
Laurie was Penrith’s best player on the field in a team that featured five debutants and was missing 16 guys from the team that lost to Canberra a week earlier.
His long ball to set up Paul Alamoti was a thing of beauty, while he also had a try disallowed later in the second half that would have made it a 12-point game.
“That was nothing. I just saw it and then threw it,” he said.
“It’s probably the best ball I ever threw. It was a good game with the boys, plenty of debutants. It was a good opportunity for them.”
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