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NSW Origin centre Michael Jennings is still firmly in the mix at Wests Tigers, ensuring a nervous summer for Blake Ayshford.
Despite Tigers officials believing Ayshford is about to revive the form that had him tipped as a Kangaroos bolter two years ago, there is no ironclad guarantee he will be there next year despite having a three-year contract.
The Jennings domino could have an impact on five clubs, with Parramatta, the Tigers, Warriors and St George Illawarra all interested in him.
His former coach Matt Elliott has a high opinion of Jennings and would love to take him to the Warriors, while the Panthers centre was one of Ricky Stuart's best in Origin last season.
Jennings' future at Penrith is uncertain thanks to a $650,000-per-season contract. Should the Tigers land him, Ayshford would be the likely casualty ahead of fellow centre Chris Lawrence.
Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell yesterday threw support behind 24-year-old Ayshford, who only last year extended his contract until the end of 2015.
"The only people talking about Blake leaving are in the media," McDonnell said. "No one here has said anything about him going.
"He's contracted for another three years and we expect him to be here. Obviously you can never say what's going to happen in the future, but we expect Blake to be playing for Wests Tigers in 2013."
The news on Ayshford comes as Tigers officials prepare to rubber stamp Mick Potter as coach.
Potter is expected to be on around $250,000 a year. One of his first jobs will be to revive the form of players such as Ayshford.
Bursting into the NRL with a try on debut against Brisbane in 2009, the centre was almost thrown into the Australian squad two years later. However, this season he struggled as the Tigers failed to make the finals.
"No, Blake didn't have a great year, but he wasn't alone," McDonnell said. "The fact is he's a great first-grade centre with size, speed and a great footy brain."
While Panthers general manager Phil Gould has said Jennings will be with his club next year, it's no secret that they need to cut at least one player from their version of the big four: Jennings, Tim Grant, Lachlan Coote and Sam McKendry.
Despite Tigers officials believing Ayshford is about to revive the form that had him tipped as a Kangaroos bolter two years ago, there is no ironclad guarantee he will be there next year despite having a three-year contract.
The Jennings domino could have an impact on five clubs, with Parramatta, the Tigers, Warriors and St George Illawarra all interested in him.
His former coach Matt Elliott has a high opinion of Jennings and would love to take him to the Warriors, while the Panthers centre was one of Ricky Stuart's best in Origin last season.
Jennings' future at Penrith is uncertain thanks to a $650,000-per-season contract. Should the Tigers land him, Ayshford would be the likely casualty ahead of fellow centre Chris Lawrence.
Tigers recruitment manager Warren McDonnell yesterday threw support behind 24-year-old Ayshford, who only last year extended his contract until the end of 2015.
"The only people talking about Blake leaving are in the media," McDonnell said. "No one here has said anything about him going.
"He's contracted for another three years and we expect him to be here. Obviously you can never say what's going to happen in the future, but we expect Blake to be playing for Wests Tigers in 2013."
The news on Ayshford comes as Tigers officials prepare to rubber stamp Mick Potter as coach.
Potter is expected to be on around $250,000 a year. One of his first jobs will be to revive the form of players such as Ayshford.
Bursting into the NRL with a try on debut against Brisbane in 2009, the centre was almost thrown into the Australian squad two years later. However, this season he struggled as the Tigers failed to make the finals.
"No, Blake didn't have a great year, but he wasn't alone," McDonnell said. "The fact is he's a great first-grade centre with size, speed and a great footy brain."
While Panthers general manager Phil Gould has said Jennings will be with his club next year, it's no secret that they need to cut at least one player from their version of the big four: Jennings, Tim Grant, Lachlan Coote and Sam McKendry.
