The 19-year-old playmaker – who happens to share his name with the Bathurst-born Sydney Thunder all-rounder – has been added to an increasingly impressive roster ahead of pre-season training in three weeks’ time.

He was a part of the Gundagai Tigers’ push to the Group 9 grand final in the top grade in 2013 where they were defeated by Albury, having debuted at just 17 years of age in 2011.

At the time he indicated that he wanted to try and go a step further with the Tigers this year but, in a change of plans, he has elected to attend Charles Sturt University.

Panthers have already locked up the majority of what was a talented but under-achieving squad from last year, as well as adding ex-Orange CYMS star Cody Robbins.

They will also welcome back second-rower Blake Seager from a stint in the Holden Cup with Canberra, and hooker Luke Carpenter will be back after missing virtually an entire season with a broken jaw.

“Blake [Dean] is a good young player and can cover halfback or five-eighth, so that adds to the depth we’ve already got in those spots,” Panthers president Dennis Comerford said.

“He will be at uni here for three or four years, so if possible we’d love to keep him throughout that time. He comes to us with very good recommendations and to have another player like him, it will give us some great direction on the field.”

Dean’s signing means Panthers will have a nice selection headache at some point. Matt Rose is set to resume his role at pivot, while Joey Bugg showed some huge improvement throughout his debut first grade season at halfback.

With Carpenter’s return at dummy-half and the utility value of Trent Hotham, there is no shortage of playmakers, and having representative flyer Robbins on the paddock will give them even more strikepower.

Training for the premier league and first division sides officially gets underway on January 21 at Morse Park, while the under 18s will be holding their first session on January 7 at the same venue.