NRL 2022: Api Koroisau locks in long-term replacement at the Panthers

Soni Luke will get his chance to impress on Saturday night, but Api Koroisau has his eyes on an another teammate to replace him next year.

Api Koroisau still has plenty to offer before he joins the Tigers next season. Picture: Tim Hunter

Api Koroisau has declared Mitch Kenny should be the man to replace him as Penrith’s long-term dummy-half.

It continues a dream week for Kenny, who will skipper the Panthers for the first time with the bulk of the squad to be rested for Saturday’s trip to Townsville.

It’s a huge honour for the local junior who has served an apprenticeship under Koroisau and has missed just three matches in 2022.

Mitch Kenny has been tipped to wear the No.9 next season. Picture; Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I definitely think Mitch is the guy,” said Koroisau, who will link up with the Wests Tigers at the end of the season.

“He’s been working super hard and he’s one of those people you need in the team because he’ll never let you down.”

While Koroisau believes Kenny should be the starting rake next season, he’s keen to see how Soni Luke develops over summer as he looks to secure a spot in the 17 next year.

Luke will come off the bench in Saturday’s game against the Cowboys in what will be his fourth appearance of the season.

“He’s just one of those guys who is awesome to be around and I’ve actually learnt so much from him with the way he moves and how fast he gets out of dummy-half,” Koroisau said.

“I hadn’t done much work with him before the pre-season but I can tell you he’s willing to learn and he’s a really good human being.”

Luke’s journey to the NRL has been arduous and filled with setbacks, but he has all the talent to be a first grader if he can finally get some luck.

It was heartache for the Panthers in 2016 after they blew a big lead in the Holden Cup grand final. Picture; Gregg Porteous

The 26-year-old won the Jack Gibson Medal as the best player in the 2015 Holden Cup grand final, and he started in the halves the following year when Penrith lost the decider against the Roosters.

He spent plenty of time with Nathan Cleary, Jarome Luai, Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris, but injuries stopped him from rising up the ranks as quickly as his junior teammates.

Luke had three shoulder reconstructions in a row, moved to the Wests Tigers where he spent a season under Brett Hodgson in reserve grade and then came back with Ivan Cleary to the Panthers where he tore his pec in 2020.

“It’s been a rollercoaster and then Covid hit. I got one final crack to do a pre-season last year and I’m very grateful I got that,” Luke said.

“I thought for a while that I was just unlucky, but then I started to fix some things up with my body and my diet. I feel strong and fit now.”

Perseverance paid off because Luke went from the Ron Massey Cup all the way to an NRL debut earlier this season, and it’s largely been down to his stellar form in the NSW Cup where he’s racked up a whopping 19 try assists.

He’ll add to his three NRL appearances this weekend and is keen to show off the skills he’s learnt off his veteran teammate.

We’ll be seeing a lot more of Soni Luke next year. Picture; NRL Imagery

“I’d love to play more first grade, but I’ve still got a lot of work to do,” said Luke, who made his Tongan debut earlier in the year.

“While Api is here, I want to get as much as I can out of him and I’ll keep working hard and hopefully jump into an opportunity next year.

“I’m with him every session. I watch everything he does and ask him heaps of questions.

“We’re a pretty similar style of player, so I try to copy and paste things that I think can help, but I also add my style as well. He’s unreal and has been so good for me.

“Even at training, it just feels so comfortable. I’ve played with that whole spine growing up, so nothing feels uncomfortable when I’m with them.”

Originally published as NRL 2022: Api Koroisau locks in long-term replacement at the Panthers