Penrith centre Stephen Crichton has signed a new deal with the Panthers tying himself to the club until at least 2023.
The 20-year-old will reportedly earn $650,000 per year for the next three years, and Andrew Voss and Katie Brown were surprised by the high amount the club paid.
“For a centre, you’ve got to do your checks and balances, he’s a talent, but that’s a lot of money for a bloke his age,” Voss said on SEN 1170 Breakfast.
“Look I hope it inspires and motivates him, but I hope it doesn’t take away some of the motivation to make him better.”
The explosive centre initially refused to commit his future to the club, but interest from rivals ensured Penrith would paid a high price to keep his services.
“He’s really only just at the start of his journey,” Brown told Voss.
“I’m not too sure, I feel you could have given him $400,000 for the first year and then given him a pump up after.
“$400,000 would have been a fair amount of money for a 20-year-old.”
Crichton and the Panthers open up their 2020 season on Saturday March 13 against North Queensland.
