‘He is the kind of guy who would never turn his back on you’: Api Koroisau still helping Mitch Kenny ahead of Bathurst showdown

Api Koroisau has been a shining light at the Wests Tigers, but he’s still helping the Panthers ahead of the mini reunion in Bathurst.

Mitch Kenny is set to take on his mentor for the first time. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Mitch Kenny doesn’t pretend that he can do what Api Koroisau does on the field, but three years working with the representative hooker has given him the tools he needs to help Penrith get one over their former teammate.

Penrith’s attack is still a work in progress, with Koroisau’s move to the Wests Tigers forcing them to rethink their approach around the ruck.

Api Koroisau has been a shining light at the Tigers this season, but his influence is still being felt at Penrith. Picture: Tim Hunter

Koroisau had 13 try assists last season and regularly asked questions of the markers, but the Panthers have gone away from that to start 2023, with Kenny setting up one four-pointer but shining as one of the best defensive hookers in the game.

The role itself is still fairly new to Kenny, who has teamed up with the dynamic Soni Luke this season, and the Windsor Wolves junior credits Koroisau ahead of the clash between the Sydney rivals in Bathurst.

“He pretty much guided my transition into playing No.9,” Kenny said.

“I played a bit in 2019, but I had never really been a hooker and the club needed me to play it at that time. But then I did my apprenticeship under Api and just got to marvel at what he can do.

“I tried to learn off him and he always had a lot of time for me, which was great. And we got to win a comp together last year which was pretty cool.”

Mitch Kenny started last year’s grand final before Koroisau came on to provide plenty of spark around the ruck. Picture; NRL Imagery

The pair worked intensely at training over the years, and the lessons have continued even though they now wear different jerseys.

“I've had some small conversations with Api about footy since he has left the club,” Kenny said.

“He is the kind of guy who would never turn his back on you if you had any questions or needed any advice. He’s a legend, doing that without compromising himself or his club. He is happy to help, it is just in his nature.

“I still have a relationship, but you go to different teams and you try and do your job for that team. I haven't spoken to him too much since he has been to the Tigers, but he is still a good mate and it will be cool to go up against him.

“He is a legend, he is highly respected around here and he is a close mate of a lot of us still.

“It's always cool to play your mates on the footy field, especially guys who were once your teammates.

“I'm sure we’ll treat Api with the respect he deserves in trying to stop him and how good he is. And when that game is all said and done, it would be nice to catch up with him.

“He is just another player in a team we need to try and stop because he is so classy and he has shown this year what he can do. We will need to be ready when the time comes to stop him because obviously he can expose us.”

Kenny has kept things simple at dummy-half which has allowed Nathan Cleary to take even more control of the team. Picture: Tim Hunter

Kenny admires players like Koroisau and Damien Cook, who can tear teams apart with their speed and cunning through the middle, but he doesn’t feel the need to change his approach, with Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai classy enough to spark Penrith’s attack.

“It hasn't been about trying to replicate what Api does but more his understanding of the game and his game sense,” he said.

“Physically, I could dream, but I just couldn't do some of the things he can do. It’s more just my understanding of what it was to play hooker. I took a lot of notes from Api and learnt a lot from him and try to apply it to my game.

“I am a different player to them. As long as I am doing my job for the team, that's all I look at rather than comparing myself to them.

“I couldn't do the things that Damien Cook does anyway. I am not going to try. I just try and do my game for the team and if I do that well and it helps us, then that is a tick for me.”

Soni Luke has been a nightmare for opposition defences this season. Picture: Brett Hemmings/Getty Images

With Koroisau gone, the Panthers now have a two-pronged threat at dummy-half, with Luke coming on against tiring forwards to open the game up, which is yet another thing the winless Tigers have to worry about at Carrington Park.

“Soni just possesses so much strike when he comes on the field. He is such a classy attacking player, he has a big bag of tricks,” Kenny said.

“I just try and get through a bit of the grunt work and it allows him to come out and do his thing. If we can just stay healthy, we can build on that. It is a work in progress, but I think we have all seen little glimpses of what he is able to do.”