‘Something in the water’: Panthers to unleash next bush footy star

Panthers youngster Jack Cole looks set to continue a growing list of five-eighths to come out of Orange, including Jack Wighton, James Maloney and Daniel Mortimer.

Jack Cole is a bright prospect in the Panthers' lower grades. Credit: NRL Images.

If Orange isn’t the new Black, then it’s about to be.

Especially if Jack Cole wears the No.6 jumper for Penrith in next Saturday’s anticipated World Club Challenge clash against Wigan.

With incumbent five-eighth Jarome Luai expected to be ruled out with injury, it is understood Cole is being strongly considered to edge out Daine Laurie and Brad Schneider for the role.

It would be a sure sign that the 20-year-old is the long-term replacement for the three-time premiership-winning playmaker, who is bound for the Wests Tigers next year.

And in doing so, he would continue a growing list of playmakers to come out of Orange, including Jack Wighton, James Maloney and Daniel Mortimer.

Jack Cole is a bright prospect in the Panthers' lower grades. Credit: NRL Images

“Yeah, there might be something in the water, eh,” Cole tells this masthead from Manchester.

Between them, three premierships, five grand finals and 24 State of Origin games.

But while Wighton and Maloney were the most decorated, it was Mortimer who had the most impact on Cole when he moved back home to captain-coach Orange CYMS.

“I had one year there with him, which I did a bit of training with the first grade side and learnt a bit off him,” Cole said.

“He went back up to Queensland for a year. Now he’s back captain-coaching again, which I think is really good for the club. He’ll be good for them, really good.

“He’s obviously won a premiership and he knows what he’s doing.

“He’s a pretty switched on sort of dude. I was just soaking it up at training. Just seeing how competitive he is. It’s a really good edge he has on a lot of people.”

Daniel Mortimer played a grand final at five-eighth for Parramatta.

Cole’s emergence would also continue a rich supply of talent emanating out of their academies in regional towns such as Bathurst, Dubbo and Forbes.

Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Laurie, as well as former stars Matt Burton, Charlie Staines and Wayde Egan, all hail from the bush and made their debuts at the club.

“It’s good for the country kids to see that they can get an opportunity here. Penrith are really good with that, getting out west, watching the games,” Cole said.

“I think it’s really good for the country kids, giving them that hope and knowing there’s a possibility they can be down if they work hard enough.”

Like Burton, Cole arrived at the club as a playmaker but was asked by coach Ivan Cleary to develop his game with stints at centre over the past two seasons.

“It’s good just adding a bit more versatility to my game. It’s also helped with my running game at six, which I think is my strength,” Cole said.

“It’s pretty cool to be compared to someone like that.

“He’s a pretty good player. He’s played Origin and for Australia. But at the end of the day, I’m looking to try make my own name.”

Originally published as ‘Something in the water’: Panthers to unleash next bush footy star