Penrith Panthers back-rower Mavrik Geyer is reportedly set to leave the club at the end of the 2025 NRL season, signing a one-year deal with the Wests Tigers in a bid to secure more consistent first-grade opportunities.
The 24-year-old has made 13 NRL appearances since debuting in 2024 but has struggled to cement a regular spot in the Panthers’ star-studded line-up, featuring in only two top-grade games this season.
The son of rugby league great and 2GB radio host Mark Geyer has found it difficult to break into the Panthers’ stacked forward pack, which boasts the likes of Origin star Liam Martin, New Zealand international Scott Sorensen, and recent recruit Isaiah Papali’i.
Off contract at the end of the season, The Sydney Morning Herald has reported that Geyer has opted to join the Wests Tigers in 2026 on a one-year deal.
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The Panthers are focused on upgrading and extending contracts for key players like Kangaroos prop Lindsay Smith, prioritising the retention of their current regular NRL squad over Geyer.
Panthers general manager Shane Elford acknowledged the move, expressing disappointment in losing a home-grown product but recognising the log jam of talent ahead of Geyer in the depth chart.
"We don't ever want to lose a local junior, and Mav's proven that he can play first grade and is a first-grade player," Elford said to The Sydney Morning Herald, all but confirming the young forward’s departure.
"It's just unfortunate that we've had a really successful run, and there's just players that have won multiple grand finals that are ahead of him at this point in time. Now he's got an opportunity to go to another club and play first grade and help develop his career.”
At the Tigers, Geyer will again need to work his way up the pecking order, with Alex Seyfarth enjoying a strong 2025 campaign, Samuela Fainu emerging as a starting second-rower, and English international Kai Pearce-Paul set to arrive in 2026 from the Newcastle Knights.