Panthers CEO Brian Fletcher has responded emphatically to rumours young halfback Nathan Clearly could join his dad Ivan at an NRL club in the future.

Fletcher told News Corp, there was nothing the club could do about the rumours after Ivan's comments.

"Well, we can’t do anything about that," Fletcher said.

"That is up to his old man and Nathan and his management, isn’t it? We will talk to him well prior (to Nathan becoming a free agent).

"Gus has spoken to him. Gus would be well advanced on what has to happen.

"All indications that we have had is that Nathan would probably like to extend his contract if his management is agreeable with what they come up with.

"You have got to keep him but if he wants to go and play with his dad, well, you could understand that too.

"We’d do everything in our power to keep him but family loyalty is pretty hard to beat."

Although the real kicker comes from Fletcher's comments about Nathan potentially joining a club "that might not be a chance of winning a comp."

"Just say for instance if Penrith finish in the top four and Wests finish in the last four, do you want to go to a club that is a chance of winning a comp?" Fletcher said.

"Do you want to go to a club that might not be a chance of winning a comp? Or yes, you go there because it is your dad.

"I understand the loyalty. He is just a great kid.

"We wouldn’t be tying him down and making him uncomfortable at all. All we want to do is give him a very comfortable contract to go forward."

If Nathan doesn't extended his contract with the Panthers by November 1 2018, he will become a free agent and able to negotiate with rival clubs.