Barrett looks to poach another Panthers player

Story via Dan Walsh and Alicia Newton from NRL.com

Penrith are resigned to losing rising star Brent Naden as the latest Panther targeted for Trent Barrett’s Belmore rebuild.

NRL.com understands a two-year deal for Naden to link once more with Barrett at Canterbury is close to being signed off, though neither the Panthers or Bulldogs have made any official comment on the 25-year-old’s future.

Naden has fallen down the backline pecking order at Penrith but remained a retention target as the Bulldogs and Wests Tigers both pursued him this season.

Salary cap pressure and competition for backline spots between Paul Momirovski, Stephen Crichton, Matt Burton and Dylan Edwards is set to see Naden seek a fresh start at the Bulldogs.

A Belmore shift will see Naden join fellow ex-Panthers Jack Hetherington and key signing Burton next season and comes after the Bulldogs also targeted Spencer Leniu and Charlie Staines late last year.