Panthers send hooker Segeyaro to reserve grade

SYDNEY: Penrith hooker James Segeyaro,  has been dropped to reserve grade, fuelling speculation he’s headed for an early exit from the NRL club.
The 25-year-old has been left out of coach Anthony Griffin’s squad to take on Melbourne at AAMI Park on Saturday.


The former Papua New Guinea international was dumped just a week after receiving a warning from police for consorting with known criminals after a night out at The Star casino. Segeyaro was pictured dining with housemate Corey Norman alongside former bikies boss Paulie Younan and alleged fraudster and money launderer Rafat Alameddine.
Norman was later charged with drug possession after allegedly being caught with ecstasy and muscle relaxants when stopped and searched by security.


Segeyaro is off-contract at the end of the year and is reportedly out of favour after a lacklustre start to the season with Peter Wallace named at No.9 to take on the in-form Storm.
The former North Queensland Cowboys hooker, who moved to Sydney in 2013, has been told he has no future with the Penrith Panthersbeyond the end of the 2016 NRL season, just days after being warned by NSW police for allegedly consorting with criminal figures. Panthers general manager of football Phil Gould said the crafty hooker would not be offered a deal for next year.


“That’s a salary cap issue, I don’t think we’re going to be able to offer Segeyaro a contract for next year and we’ve already told him that,” Gould told Sky Sports Radio’s Big Sports Breakfast yesterday.
Goroka-born Segeyaro, who only last year earned Australian citizenship, faces the prospect of being left out in the cold on the representative front as he struggles to regain the kind of form that had him tipped as a bolter for State of Origin for Queensland two years ago.


With 103 games under his belt there will not be a shortage of clubs in the NRL, as well as the British Super League, out to secure the services of the talented rake.
St George Illawarra Dragons and the Gold Coast Titans are clubs that are apparently interested in Segeyaro.  –  AAP