Bryce Cartwright

Speaking for the first time after Penrith granted him a release to join his old junior coach Garth Brennan on the holiday strip, Cartwright said the chance to escape Sydney's fishbowl drove his shock off-season switch.

While stressing he and Penrith coach Anthony Griffin maintain a "great relationship", Cartwright did confirm whispers he was on the outer as far as the Panthers' first-choice line-up was concerned, with the Titans offering a chance for him to get back to his favoured lock position and best football as a result.

The move has the potential to elevate rookie coach Garth Brennan’s side into playoff contention, although the injuries and personal demons that have littered Cartwright’s young career adds an obvious layer of risk.

For the Panthers there are also ramifications, with the contender losing game breaking ability on the negative side but gaining salary cap space to balance the ledger.

Foxsports.com.au answers five burning questions that linger over the deal.

Why did the Panthers release him?

Brittany Hura, who was in a relationship with Cartwright for six years, made the alleged death threats in a video posted on her Facebook account on Sunday.

“You think I’m laughing because I’m mentally f***ed up?,” she asked in the video posted under the name Brinneyy Hura.

“I’m not mentally f***ed up I’m just laughing at you ... you’re going to be dead soon.

"In the grave ... six feet under ... you don’t even know what’s coming at you.

“Don’t worry about me I’ll be somewhere ... on CCTV.