James Segeyaro out to beat co-captain Kevin Kingston for Penrith hooking spot

THE claws are out for Penrith’s No. 9 jersey, with James Segeyaro desperate to establish a starting spot this season.

The claws are out for Penrith’s No. 9 jersey, with James Segeyaro desperate to finish his hooking apprenticeship and establish a starting spot this season.

Standing in Segeyaro’s way is none other than co-captain Kevin Kingston, who won tremendous admiration - and a contract extension - for his classy response to being told to look elsewhere midway through 2013.

Penrith’s backflip on Kingston has forced Segeyaro to recalibrate his expectations for 2014, which the PNG International had assumed would be his time to a starting spot after two years on the bench.

But coach Ivan Cleary has maintained the status quo for Saturday’s season-opener against Newcastle, starting Kingston at hooker and naming his livewire understudy in a double digit jersey.

However, Segeyaro has refused to accept the pecking order is set in stone. Having this year transferred his International allegiance in a bid to assume Cameron Smith’s Queensland Origin jersey down the track, Segeyaro wants to be the first-choice rake at Penrith.

“At the end of the day I came to Penrith to be an established No. 9 and that’s always going to be my ultimate goal,” he said.

“At the moment Ivan (Cleary) still thinks the best thing for my development is to start behind Kev, and I don’t disagree with it. He’s the captain of our club, he leads by example and there’s areas of my game that I have to improve.

James Segeyaro in action for the Panthers last season. Picture Gregg Porteous

“But I do want to wear the No. 9 jersey. I don’t want to sit on the bench. That’s what happened last year, but this year might be a bit different. I’m on the bench again this week, so it’s up to me to keep working on my craft and get a starting spot.”

Segeyaro signed a two-year extension last season, and last week settled-on a four bedroom townhouse in Silverware that proves his long-term desire to remain in Sydney’s west.

The new contract was signed on assumption that Kingston would leave, and Segeyaro admitted he was “shocked” when the club changed its mind.

“It showed the character of the bloke,” Segeyaro said. “Kev didn’t complain, he just got on with business and gave them no choice but to offer him an extension. I was a bit shocked, because I did think I’d be the starting hooker (in 2014), but all credit to Kev. We need him in the team.

“Now it’s up to me to work harder, improve my game and try to get in the starting team. When Kevvie re-signed Ivan spoke to me about all of that.

“It’s the little things like knowing when to kick, or when to pass, and when the time is right, what kick or pass to choose. I need to feel the flow of the game better. Kev has actually been massive for me, in that respect.”

Accustomed to Segeyaro snapping at his heels, Kingston predicted he would have “limited minutes” on the park this year and also said a move to lock was less likely given the recruitment of Elijah Taylor and Tyrone Peachey.

“If Chicko (Segeyaro) is blitzing them, then I’ll probably get limited minutes,” Kingston said. “Ivan has always been pretty honest and upfront about that from when I re-signed last year.

“I don’t know exactly how long that means, but last year I played the first 20 minutes at hooker and then went to lock, and sometimes stayed on for 70 minutes.

“This year I don’t know about playing lock because we’ve got a lot more depth in the back row.”