Penrith stunt doubles: Brad Schneider next in line for NRL career glow-up

Filling in for Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai has become the hottest gig in the NRL, and with a shortage of halves in the game, history says Brad Schneider is in line for a massive payday.

art for Cleary and Luai halves story

It’s the underrated job that helped land Penrith three premierships and a handful of halves a career glow up.

They’re the Panthers stunt doubles, a job superbly filled by Sean O’Sullivan, then Jack Cogger and now Brad Schneider.

The 23-year-old ex-Canberra and Hull KR halfback is the latest in a line of talented players found in obscurity and brought to the club to do a job.

“He’s been outstanding,” says captain Isaah Yeo.

“[Schneider] signed with the club knowing it was going to be that similar role that Sean O’Sullivan, Jack Cogger, who more than likely will play for Nathan at some stage.

“We’re always going to miss him for that State of Origin period, and over the last few years we’ve missed him for different things, the suspension, and injuries.

“I feel like it’s good security for the club more than anything, but at the same time it’s a good opportunity for a half to come here and learn under Nathan and know you’re going to get an opportunity.

“Schneids has done that. He played in big games overseas, he played in the Challenge Cup final, led his team into a prelim out of nowhere, so it’s not like he hasn’t played in big games.

“I feel like that goes to show the strength of our systems and our culture as well, that you can have a bloke step into a really important position in the halves. I’m super stoked for him.”

Brad Schneider is impressing in the halves in the place of Nathan Cleary.

It’s genius win-win scenario on both fronts.

The job is pitched to carefully selected recruits as a chance to be a part of the club’s successful culture.

The budget contract then opens the door to full-time halves gigs across the NRL at a time when good halfbacks and five-eighths are few and far between.

Matt Burton was the unofficial first, although he was a homegrown star who filled where he could.

The chance to play halves full-time tempted him to the Bulldogs, where he signed a rich three-year deal.

Sean O’Sullivan was next, a journeyman at just 23 when he signed after stints with the Roosters, Broncos and the Warriors.

His 11 games filling in for Cleary through a shoulder injury and then suspension helped the Panthers to eight wins over the same period, landing them another minor premiership and their second straight title.

He landed a three-year-deal with the Dolphins off the back of that season, with Penrith junior Isaiya Katoa also following in 2023.

Jack Cogger followed, plucked from the Super League after time with Newcastle and the Bulldogs.

Last year he played eight games as a stand-in half for Cleary and Jarome Luai, which doesn’t include three games from the bench and one game changing stint against Brisbane in the grand final.

It earned him a three-year deal to return to the Knights worth $900,000.

“The club takes pride in getting players like that who can probably go and be a starting half somewhere else but they come here just to learn,” Yeo continues.

“There’s an understanding of if they do their job well when their time arrives, there’s obviously going to be really good opportunities at the back end of it too.

“That’s shown for Seany and for Coggs, they’ve fallen straight into three or four year deals as a starting halfback, so I guess it’s a wonderful opportunity for Schneids.

“I’d love to see him stay for longer than a year as well, but I feel like the cub definitely takes pride in that we’ve got the system there that were obviously getting players who can go somewhere else for more money or a better opportunity but they come here to be a part of the system and then they get an opportunity they take it with both hands.”

Schneider signed a two-year deal with the Panthers and is off to a flying start to attract interest from rivals across the game.

He made a seamless debut for the club in their 22-16 win over premiership heavyweights the Roosters last week, showing he can handle the team until Cleary’s expected return from a hamstring injury in round 7.

“It comes down to his work ethic and the way he’s trained in the off-season,” said fullback Dylan Edwards.

“He’s obviously surrounded by some good players, learning from Nathan and the coaching staff, he’s very impressive the way he worked.

“The club’s not recruiting players who can’t do a job for us. The way we train, our culture and our values at the moment are really strong and what we expect of people who come in and pull on a jersey, so whoever comes into our side, we have confidence in them.”

Originally published as Penrith stunt doubles: Brad Schneider next in line for NRL career glow-up