PENRITH’S retention drive has locked in yet another player.

Meanwhile, an injury update on injured Panthers flyer Josh Mansour, and why Canterbury need Wests Tigers prop Aaron Woods.

Catch all the latest rugby league news in Media Watch!

PENRITH LOCK UP ANOTHER PLAYER

Round 19

Penrith has joined St George Illawarra and North Queensland in handing out lengthy deals with the mountain men re-signing centre Dean Whare long term.

The 27-year-old joined the Panthers from Manly in 2013 and while he’s had an injury ravaged time at the club, that hasn’t scared off the decision makers from backing him as the future of the club.

Panthers centre Dean Whare scores a try. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: News Corp Australia

NRL Tonight reporter Zac Bailey reports that the Panthers have re-signed Whare on a four-year-deal with an option in Whare’s favour for a fifth season.

“Phil Gould and Anthony Griffin continue their strong recruitment and retention drive at Penrith — on Monday it was Dallin Watene-Zelezniak who inked a new deal,” Bailey revealed.

“Now I can reveal centre Dean Whare has inked a new four-year-deal with the Panthers.

“He also has a fifth year option in his favour which could see him a Panther for life.

“It’s a great show of faith from the club in the Kiwi international who has had an injury plagued couple of years.”

Whare will be 32 at the end of the five-year term.

“It’s a great re-signing for the club,” Whare’s teammate Josh Mansour told NRL Tonight.

“I’m sure he’s got a lot of good years ahead of him.”

TITAN WALKS AWAY

First Chris McQueen announced he was leaving at the end of the year but Tyler Cornish isn’t even waiting until the season is out.

While McQueen will join the Tigers from 2018, Cornish has decided to return to Goulburn.

The utility was a standout in the Auckland Nines and made his NRL debut just a few weeks ago.

Tyler Cornish has walked away from the Titans. Source: AAP

While he wasn’t part of the Titans’ top 25 squad, Cornish was training fulltime before pulling the pin on Friday.

“That’s what he wants to do which is disappointing,” coach Neil Henry said.

“We put some time in him and he played some good footy.”

WHY DOGS NEED WOODS

Canterbury are right in the running to snare Wests Tigers captain Aaron Woods and former rugby league player Mark Carroll believes he’s just what the Bulldogs need.

The Bulldogs have a number of players off-contract including big names Josh Reynolds and Will Hopoate and are reportedly keen on Woods as well as James Tedesco.

“I think they need him,” Carroll told NRL Tonight of Woods.

“(He’s got) ball playing skill before the line which allows (David) Klemmer to do his job ... no passes, just worrying about hitting the advantage line.

“I think Woodsy would be a great fit at Canterbury.”

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MANSOUR INJURY UPDATE

Panthers winger Josh Mansour has set his sights on a round 13 return from injury against the Bulldogs.

Mansour has been working hard to get back on the playing field after suffering an ACL injury while training with the Kangaroos at the Four Nations.

“I’ve had no hiccups at this point in time,” Mansour told NRL Tonight.

“I’m probably six weeks away from schedule, then three more weeks by myself running then hopefully integrating back into the team three more weeks into my return.

“It’s been a learning experience ... I just want to get back onto the park.”

Meanwhile, teammate Bryce Cartwright is nearing closer to a return from his ankle injury.

The backrower featured in round one before suffering the injury early into round two.

“He’s been training really hard,” Mansour said.

“He started running on the (anti-gravity) treadmill this week.

“He’s pretty sick of me training in the rehab group so I hope he is out there next week.”

RED V TO MIX IT UP

St George Illawarra coach Paul McGregor has revealed Jason Nightingale and Kurt Mann may alternate positions throughout Saturday’s match against Manly.

Nightingale has been named at fullback following Josh Dugan’s hamstring injury that will sideline him for two weeks.

Jason Nightingale will start at fullback for the Dragons. Source: Getty Images

“Jason is a hardened professional ... a tough type of player which is needed,” McGregor told media on Friday.

“Kurt has only had that one hitout last week, so we put him in that position where he excelled last year on the left wing.

“But you might see him at times at fullback as well.”

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