NRL 2024: Penrith’s brightest country prospect, Jack Cole, shaping as Jarome Luai’s succession plan

Orange-raised Jack Cole is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the Penrith Panthers’ bush footy success stories - and he has eyes on Jarome Luai’s jersey, writes FATIMA KDOUH.

Panthers rising star Jack Cole . Photo Penrith Panthers

Jack Cole has been following a simple mantra from his Penrith coaches: run first, pass second, kick third.

And the kid, who until 15 didn’t see a long-term future in rugby league, now has a goal of one day inheriting the No.6 jersey from Jarome Luai.

And with Luai’s future up in the air as he meets with rival clubs, Cole revealed he is “100 per cent’’ ready to become Nathan Cleary’s halves partner in 2025 if needed.

The Orange-raised Cole is hoping to follow in the footsteps of the club’s bush footy success stories in Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards.

Kdouh: You’re in your second NRL pre-season now but wanting to be an NRL player is a relatively new goal for you, is that right?

Cole: I actually played soccer until I was 12. To be honest, it’s not like I wanted to be a professional soccer player, I was more just playing with my mates. I did make the NSW All Schools Primary team but I think that’s because not many other kids tried out.

Kdouh: Is that because most kids in Orange, where you’re from, played league?

Cole: That’s how I got into league. My mates wanted to play so I followed them across to Orange CYMS. I really enjoyed it and we pretty much won all of the grades together.

Kdouh: Is that when you decided you wanted to be an NRL player?

Cole: Honestly, it wasn’t until I was 15 when that became the dream. I got sussed out by Penrith. I came over and did a few trials. Back then Penrith was one of the only clubs that would come out west and watch players.

Panthers rising star Jack Cole. Photo Penrith Panthers

Kdouh: The club has scouted a lot of top-line talent from the bush, guys like Isaah Yeo, Liam Martin and Dylan Edwards. Did that sway your decision to join?

Cole: It helped knowing there was a path from the country to NRL. Plus, the club wasn’t too demanding of me. I stayed in school. l would come up Friday, play on Saturday and then go home. I heard some other clubs wanted players to be there midweek. I ended up moving full-time in January 2021 and did my first full under-20s pre-season.

Kdouh: You went from not wanting to be an NRL player at 15 to the NSWRL Jersey Flegg player of the year at age 19. It sounds like you picked up the game quickly?

Cole: I was playing a bit of touch at the time so I think that made the transition a bit easier.

Kdouh: Is your touch background why you decided to play in the halves?

Cole: I actually started my junior footy as a fullback but I was sort of pushed into the halves when I first signed on here and the coaches liked me there.

Jack Cole is hoping to follow in the footsteps of Penrith’s bush footy stars. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Kdouh: Do you see yourself as a halfback or five-eighth?

Cole: Five-eighth. I play my best footy when I run the ball. That’s what the coaches have been saying to me, ‘run first, pass second, kick third’. It comes naturally to run first.

Kdouh: You started NSW Cup at centre in 2023, are you being pushed into the centres now?

Cole: Last year was the first time I played a fair bit of centre, I ended up playing seven games. Ivan (Cleary) wanted to see me play there. It gives me a bit of versatility too. The more positions you can cover, the more valuable you are as a player.

Kdouh: Did you enjoy playing in the centres?

Cole: The decision making at centre is a lot different than in the halves. You feel more vulnerable, but working with the coaches I realised it’s about trusting your inside man to make the right reads.

Kdouh: Stephen Crichton’s spot is up for grabs, and the World Club Challenge is coming up, already a couple of guys like Sunia Turuva and Taylan May are vying for it. Would you also put your hand up?

Cole: Definitely, I’d be up for it. This is the kind of club where you train to be able to handle any position or situation. I’m confident I could handle wherever Ivan needed me. We all know there is a chance that might happen, but that’s not until February. It’s in the back of your mind. Whoever gets picked, well done to them.

Kdouh: There’s also a lot of competition in the halves with guys like Daine Laurie and Brad Schneider, and of course Jarome Luai has the No.6 on lock, for now. What are your thoughts on that battle?

Cole: The competition will be good for all of us. We’re always competing. It’s a healthy thing.

Jack Cole is seen as a viable option to replace Jarome Luai at five-eighth. Credit: NRL Images.

Kdouh: There’s a lot of talk about Luai’s future. If Luai isn’t there in 2025, are you eyeing his No.6 jumper?

Cole: Oh yeah, 100 per cent. I’ll go after that opportunity but we have to wait and see what happens. I know there is a lot of noise at the moment. I have so much respect for Jarome. I really enjoy being around him. Obviously the position I want to get to is where he is at the moment, so I’m just trying to learn off him as a mentor.

Kdouh: Last year you re-signed until the end of 2026 knowing you’d be stuck behind Luai. Why’d you feel comfortable making that choice?

Cole: They’ve made four grand finals and won three. I want to try and build my game as much as I can. This is the best place to do that. I know I have to bide my time and hopefully one day I’m good enough to push for one of those spots.

Kdouh: You’re now doing the NRL pre-season with a few of the guys who you won the NSW Cup title with in 2022. The NRL team’s success has been built on players coming through the grades together. Are you guys hoping to do the same?

Cole: You’ve got Harry Hassett, Billy Scott, Isaiah Iongi and Jesse McLean … we are all similar ages. Eventually, that’s our goal for sure. The current NRL guys are still young, too, but we know if we keep chipping away and at some point we’ll all be in the same team one day.