“So as disappointed as we are that we’re losing a local junior and a player with the Geyer surname from our club, I’m actually excited for him to be able to play more first grade at a club that’s on the rise. While we’re disappointed we can’t keep them all, it’s actually a positive, I believe, because he gets to play first grade and more of it.”

Mark Geyer won a premiership with the Panthers in 1991. Like his son, he too left the club to join the Tigers for one season before linking up with the Western Reds in Perth.

Geyer has the opportunity to follow the same path with the Perth Bears coming into the competition in 2027.

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The Panthers said the decision to end ties with Geyer was difficult, but insisted he had a bright future in the NRL.

“It wasn’t an easy conversation,” Elford said. “We would want to keep everybody if it was possible, but you know the track record with the players that we’ve unfortunately had to lose for various reasons over the years. We just can’t keep them all. Their values are getting greater and greater every single year.

“Nobody wants to play reserve grade, with all due respect. They want to progress their own careers and the ability for Mav to do that at this club isn’t there at the moment.

“We came to the decision to let him go, and we genuinely believe it’s the best thing for his own career as well. It’s no disrespect because he’s an absolutely great kid.“

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