The Panthers have reportedly begun conversations to lock up three stars who are off contract at the end of 2023.

Premiership winners Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton and Liam Martin are the trio the Penrith side desperately want to keep after losing a number of big name stars.

The mountain men have made successive grand finals and their star-studded team was hot property coming into 2022.

Matt Burton, Tevita Pangai Jnr and Brent Naden were snapped up by the Bulldogs while Paul Momirovski and Kurt Capewell also departed.

At the conclusion of the 2022 season the Panthers will again lose players, with Viliame Kikau following his former teammates to the Bulldogs and Apisai Koroisau moving to Wests Tigers.

To make sure they don’t lose more of their stars, the Panthers have reportedly begun conversations with To’o, Martin and Crichton according to The Daily Telegraph.

“Brian, Liam and Stephen — there are a few to sort through,” said Panthers deputy chairman Greg Alexander.

“We know who we have to talk to and who we want to keep and those three are at the top of the list.

“All three have been terrific for us over the last couple of years and played an important part in our premiership win.

“We have a tight-knit playing group and that will play a huge part in players either leaving or staying. If you’re comfortable and happy, and you’re training and playing in a good environment, that’s pretty important.

“I know players take that in account when they think about their future. We will do everything we can to keep our key players together.”

Alexander went on to say that re-signing the players before rival clubs can swarm “would be a good thing”.

The trio could command figures upwards of $600,000-a-year each and after their premiership year, the Panthers retention committee have the hard task of fitting their star-studded line-up under the salary cap.

To’o was a huge figure in the Panthers title push and was an integral member of NSW’s winning Origin side.

Liam Martin can expect a bigger role this season, with two starting backrowers departing and Stephen Crichton will likely move back to his native centre position after featuring on the wing late last season.