The Penrith Panthers have reportedly signed a fifth player from the New Zealand Warriors in recent weeks, with hooker Freddy Lussick making the move back to Australia. The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Lussick has made an immediate switch from the Warriors to the Panthers, joining a number of teammates in doing the same.
The Panthers have confirmed the signings of Kalani Going and Tom Ale from the Warriors for 2026, and have reportedly also convinced Toby Crosby and Patrick Moimoi to make the switch. Lussick, Going, Ale, Crosby and Moimoi were all part of the Warriors’ NSW Cup squad that won the reserve-grade premiership this season.
Lussick will be joining his fourth NRL club after stints with the Roosters and Dragons before the Warriors. The hooker played 39 games at NRL level for the Warriors from 2022 to 2025, and will likely serve as Mitch Kenny’s back-up at the Panthers in 2026.
Penrith had been using the likes of Luke Sommerton and Soni Luke to play dummy-half when Kenny was out, but neither were offered a new contract for 2026. The Panthers have also brought Jack Cogger back from the Knights, and he’ll likely play a bench utility role next season.
According to @codesportsau – Warriors hooker Freddy Lussick has signed to play for the @PenrithPanthers for 2026 adding yet more depth and competition for the back-up hooking spot at Penrith.#PantherPride pic.twitter.com/o7L5UJ91kN
— Peter Lang (@PeterVLang) November 25, 2025
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has a connection to the Warriors in that he formerly played for and coached the club. Youngest son Jett is under contract with the New Zealand club until the end of 2027, and was actually born in Auckland while Ivan was coaching there. Ivan was a keen observer when the Warriors won the State Championship on NRL grand final day.
