The Penrith Panthers have announced that promising gun outside back Thomas Jenkins will leave the club before the 2024 season.
Jenkins, who is out of contract at the conclusion of the 2023 season, had been linked with a move to the Newcastle Knights in recent times, and that now appears to be more likely with Penrith announcing his departure.
Jenkins made his NRL debut in Round 25 of the 2022 season, when Penrith rested most of their best 17 for the last round game against the North Queensland Cowboys, however he could only play five games this year.
All the best, Jenko ✌️#pantherpride 🐾 pic.twitter.com/OwC8KLa7kF
— Penrith Panthers 🏆🏆🏆 (@PenrithPanthers) October 18, 2023
Despite his abilities to play in the centres and on the wing, he was locked behind an exceptional Panthers backline, and that wasn’t about to change with the team welcoming Taylan May back from injury and signing Paul Alamoti.
Jenkins would have been down the pecking order at the foot of the Alps even with the loss of Stephen Crichton to the Canterbury Bulldogs, as Ivan Cleary’s team prepares to go for a historic four-peat.
That might not be the case in the Hunter.
The Knights have lost Dominic Young in a big-money move to the Sydney Roosters, so a space on the wing is free, and it could be argued that other spots in their backline will be up for grabs if they don’t get off to a good start.
If the deal is completed, Jenkins will have significantly more opportunities at Newcastle than he would have had at the Panthers.
