Penrith legend delivers Panthers rake Mitch Kenny stunning praise
Penrith legend Scott Sattler has been so impressed with rookie rake Mitch Kenny that he’s compared him to a former teammate and hooking great of the proud club.
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From an NRL unknown who started this season mowing lawns as part of his daily choirs, Mitch Kenny has now drawn comparisons to one of Penrith’s grand final heroes.
In stunning praise, Scott Sattler has declared the rookie hooker’s subtle skills reminds him of former Clive Churchill Medal winner Luke Priddis.
After initially getting his top grade call-up because of an NRL exemption to cover for the then injured Wayde Egan, Kenny has emerged as the Panthers’ lucky charm — with the little known 21-year-old yet to taste NRL defeat.
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Kenny debuted in the round 11 win over Parramatta and has since played a part in the run of seven straight victories.
Making Kenny’s arrival even more extraordinary, that followed a disastrous start where the Panthers lost eight of their opening 10 games.
“He is like Priddis was for us,” Sattler said.
“There is no frills about him but he knows when to take the moment.
“He has beautiful subtle touches and that is like ‘Priddo’ was.
“He only took moments when he knew they were going to turn into something positive. He didn’t take them for the sake of taking them.”
But while the Panthers would already have rivals feeling nervous in the run to the finals, Sattler believes this Sunday’s showdown with four-placed Canberra will be the clash that determines if Ivan Cleary’s side are now genuine contenders.
This time last year the Panthers were sitting fifth on the NRL ladder with 11 wins and six losses, while they are currently seventh with nine wins and eight losses.
“This week will definitely show it,” Sattler said.
“My biggest complaint about the Panthers over the years is that they have had these really good players who have come out of the under 20s system and been really successful.
“But they have never been able to change their mindset to become a week in week out battle hardened NRL player.
“They would rather lose and look good than win and look bad.
“And they would get into the arm wrestle and blink first and the other team would beat them through pure tenacity.
“But I think they are over the top of that now.
“And the little hooker is a good example of it.”
At the start of the year many rated the Panthers as a top four team but while they looked gone after 10 rounds the State of Origin period has been their saviour.
Sattler says it’s again not unlike in 2003.
“In 2003 we took advantage of a couple of teams who did lose a lot of people during Origin,” he recalled.
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“And we kept gathering momentum to the point where you get so confident that you don’t care if they threw a team of Immortals out there, you still thought you were going to beat them.
“You have to take advantage of situations.
“But there also comes a time when you come up against one of the genuine contenders like the Raiders this week and they will stare you in the eyes and you have to be willing to go nose to nose with them and not blink.”
“They are dangerous,” Sattler added.
“They have a good sturdy hooker, a good halves combination, a strike backrower, big front rowers and good finishers on either side as well.
“I think they have taken over as the Sharks. They are sort of a team you don’t want to play in the finals.”
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