The Penrith Panthers’ incredible four-peat era continues to come at a cost, with another major figure stepping away from the club.
Having already lost stars like Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Api Koroisau, and Matt Burton to rival teams, the Panthers are now set to farewell longtime CEO Brian Fletcher, who has informed the club of his decision to retire at the start of 2026.
Fletcher, 71, has served as CEO and director of the Panthers for 15 years, overseeing one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. His leadership has been widely praised, with Panthers Chairman Peter Graham saying:
“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.”
In a club statement, the Panthers highlighted Fletcher’s immense contribution:
“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 launch a formal search for a new Group CEO to guide the Panthers into their next chapter.
A Legacy Built on Premiership Success
Fletcher was a key architect of the Panthers’ high-performance culture. In 2016, he led the development of the club’s elite training academy, which has produced numerous premiership-winning players. He also played a significant behind-the-scenes role in lobbying Peter V’landys to join the Australian Rugby League Commission, using their horse racing ties.
“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 Daily Telegraph.
While he says the role has been incredibly fulfilling, Fletcher feels the time is right:
“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.”
🗳️ POLL: Who Should Replace Brian Fletcher as Panthers CEO?
The Panthers are entering a new chapter — who do you think should take the reins?
- 🔹 Matt Cameron (Panthers General Manager of Football)
- 🔹 Phil Gould (Former Panthers GM, NRL analyst)
- 🔹 An experienced external CEO from another club
- 🔹 A young, fresh face from within Panthers HQ
- 🔹 Not sure – let the board decide
👉 Vote now and share your thoughts in the comments below!
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