Jack Cole, a young player for the Penrith Panthers, is one of the more unexpected selections for Sunday’s NRL kickoff in Las Vegas, but he has no plans to return the jersey anytime soon.
Long hailed as a key component of Penrith’s future, the five-eighth can also play center.
He may have developed a little more slowly than many had hoped, but at the end of 2024, Penrith signed Blaize Talagi from the Parramatta Eels, who appeared to be a direct replacement for Jarome Luai, who had signed a lucrative new contract with the Wests Tigers for 2025 and beyond.
However, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary put Cole in the starting lineup for the season opener on Tuesday, reestablishing order at the team, which has prioritized its own young players in recent years to maintain the NRL’s most dominant system.
Speaking to The Sydney Morning Herald in Las Vegas prior to Penrith’s Round 1 matchup with the Cronulla Sharks, Cole stated that he hopes to keep the shirt for the rest of the season.
Cole said to the publication, “I’m going to try to stay there.”
That’s the attitude you need to adopt. You can’t just hope to play one week and then hope to play the next week. I’ll strive to make sure you want to stay there.
Instead of attempting to replace Jarome Luai, Cole also disclosed that he will be able to contribute on the field in a fresh halves combination that fits his style of play.
I’m not attempting to emulate Jarome’s personality. I enjoy to watch him play, and I attempt to incorporate small elements of his style into my own. “I know that I’m going back myself, but I still have a little bit to work on,” the child remarked.
It’s unclear what the Round 1 selection will mean going forward.
While Luke Garner has unexpectedly won a center position, Paul Alamoti, who was expected to miss the first round due to injury, has recovered to be named.
Talagi, who could play in the centers just as well as he does at five-eighth or fullback, is left on the outside looking in as a result of the Panthers having an abundance of second-row alternatives.
All indications indicate that Brian To’o will return for Round 2, which means Garner will probably return to the bench and Alamoti will be moved back to the centers.
Given that Daine Laurie also seems to be Dylan Edwards’ most likely backup in the number one role, this could have pushed Talagi even lower in the running for a berth in the run-on side.
