Promising playmaker Nathan Cleary has committed himself to the Panthers by signing a new three-year deal with the club.

The deal means the 17-year-old, who was part of the Panthers premiership-winning NYC squad in 2015, will remain at the club until at least the end of the 2018 season.

"I see a good future for me here and I'm excited to pursue that in the years ahead," Cleary said.

"I'm hoping to play consistently in the under-20s this year but it would also be good to get a few games up in NSW Cup."

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Cleary, who celebrates his 18th birthday this Saturday, said the departure of his father Ivan from the Panthers played a role in his decision to remain at the club.

"To be honest it's made it easier for me to carve my own path and follow the direction I want to go without having people speculate about the influence of my Dad," he said.

"It's an awesome feeling to get the deal done so I can focus on preparing myself for the upcoming season."

The Australian Schoolboys representative is currently taking part in orientation week activities with the Panthers NYC squad under coach Cameron Ciraldo.