MATT Moylan won’t be back for Penrith this weekend and there’s every chance he’ll be leaving Sydney’s west for good at season’s end.

The Panthers captain was given time off from the game to deal with personal issues and while he reportedly asked to play in his side’s semi-final clash against Brisbane on Friday night, the club overruled him.

Reports have suggested Moylan had a falling out with coach Anthony Griffin and rumours are swirling about whether the NSW representative will be at the club next year, despite having four years left to run on his contract.

Channel Seven rugby league reporter Josh Massoud says Moylan will likely be heading to Manly in 2018 because of his desire to live closer to the beach and his relationship with former Penrith assistant and now Sea Eagles coach Trent Barrett, who made a “highly unusual” move with Moylan earlier this year.

“He only wants to go to one place and that is the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles,” Massoud told Sky Sports’ Big Sports Breakfast.

“That night after he was dropped in Melbourne (for going out drinking and breaking team curfew) Trent Barrett actually picked up the phone and phoned Matt Moylan and gave him some condolences. That’s highly unusual for a rival club to do that.

“We spoke last week about Matty Moylan being a keen surfer, wanting to live by the beach. I can tell you eight clubs have shown interest in him, believe it or not the Bulldogs have shown a bit of interest which is quite laughable (given their salary cup drama).

“It’s Manly or bust as I’m hearing and the moves from Manly are underway to clear up space. (Five-eighth) Blake Green is looking at a three-year deal over with the New Zealand Warriors, (backup playmaker) Jackson Hastings has also been put on the market if he wants to find another club for the final year of his contract.”

Moylan’s manager is adamant his client hasn’t asked for a release from Penrith, but Massoud says a move to Sydney’s northern beaches is definitely on the cards.

BENNETT, BOYD PLAYING IN THE SHADOWS?

An injured Darius Boyd is the key to Brisbane defeating the Panthers on Friday but if you believe the club, it’s going to have to advance without him.

Boyd missed last weekend’s loss to the Roosters with a hamstring injury and in a column for the Courier Mail said he was at long odds to line up against Penrith.

At first, rugby league greats Matthew Johns and Ben Ikin believed Boyd, coach Wayne Bennett and the Broncos were foxing, adamant the gun fullback would take his place in the number one jersey.

“The biggest contributor to this result is going to be whether Darius takes his place in the side,” Johns said on the Sydney Triple M Grill Team on Thursday.

“You saw their defensive line last week without Darius, it was just all over the place — he organises them really well from the back.

“Without Darius they done seem to have the right formula for the spine ... it’s a huge one.

“He came out and said it’s very doubtful whether I’ll play. They’re playing ducks and drakes. I’m certain he’ll play.”

Former Queensland pivot Ikin agreed. “I’m hearing the opposite, that Darius will play,” he said on NRL 360 on Wednesday.

However, despite completing training on Thursday morning, Bennett said Boyd would remain on the sideline for another week.

“No he won’t play,” Bennett said of Boyd, per the Courier Mail. “He did the session but he doesn’t feel he will be at his best. It is important for him to be at his best in the position he plays.

“I will start with Kodi (Nikorima) at fullback. I am confident enough we can overcome his loss.

“I would rather Darius think he can perform at his best than letting everybody down.

“He just wasn’t running at full speed.”