Fresh blow for Panthers as another member of four-straight premiership team set to depart
The Penrith Panthers' four-peat has seen them have to part ways with some massive names like Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Api Koroisau and Matt Burton. And another important member of their NRL juggernaut is set to step down next year, with CEO Brian Fletcher informing the club of his decision to retire on Saturday.
Fletcher has been CEO and director of the Panthers for the last 15 years, but the 71-year-old has made the difficult decision to step away. Fletcher will quit the role at the start of 2026, leaving the Panthers with a big decision to make as to who replaces him.
'On behalf of the Panthers Group board, I want to sincerely thank Brian for his tireless service to the Panthers,' the club's Chairman Peter Graham said in a statement. 'Brian's leadership over the past 10 years has helped build a successful organisation. We are grateful for everything he has done to position the club for long-term strength.'
The Panthers said in a statement: "Fletcher has played a pivotal role in shaping the organisation and has been instrumental in leading the club through one of the most successful eras in its proud history. His contribution across all facets of the Panthers Group – including the rugby league program, leagues club operations...and broader community engagement – has been tremendous. The club will now begin a formal search process to appoint a new Panthers Group CEO who can lead the organisation into its next chapter."
Fletcher has been pivotal in helping build the Panthers into the most successful NRL club of the modern era. He was at the heart of the club's decision to build their high-performance academy in 2016, which has produced a number of premiership-winning players.
He also helped convince Peter V'landys to join the Australian Rugby League Commission through their horse racing connections, and is widely regarded as one of the best administrators in Australian sport. 'Our focus from a football department point of view has always been about building good young men and champion footballers – and that success would then follow,' Fletcher told the . 'I've enjoyed being a small part in the four successful premierships. There have been a lot of great people in that success.'
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The 71-year-old is at peace with his decision to walk away. 'You often see people in jobs like mine where you're getting well paid that can stay around too long. I think it's a perfect time to retire. All the clubs are trading well. We've finished building the Pullman Hotel and the 1000-seat convention centre. We have some very talented young people in the organisation. They deserve a crack at it now.'
Fletcher joins a long line of figures to leave the Panthers in recent years. The likes of Luai, Crichton, Koroisau, Burton, Viliame Kikau and Sunia Turuva have all been forced to leave the club due to salary constraints, seeking greener pastures and more money at rival clubs.
And they've also lost premiership-winning assistant coaches. Cameron Ciraldo has gone on to become the Bulldogs' head-coach, and Andrew Webster has done likewise with the Warriors. Current assistant coach Ben Gardiner has also been linked to joining St Helens in the UK Super League.
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