By Billie Eder
Star signing Blaize Talagi has been left out of the Penrith side for the season opener against Cronulla in Las Vegas this weekend, with coach Ivan Cleary naming Jack Cole to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves.
The Panthers see Talagi as the long-term replacement for Jarome Luai at five-eighth after signing him on a three-year deal from Parramatta, but there’s a sense the 19-year-old isn’t quite ready to make his debut.
Teammate Dylan Edwards predicted fans would see Talagi in a Panthers jersey sooner rather than later.
“He’s still really learning and really trying to just take everything in here as well,” Edwards said after a training session on Monday, US time. “So it’s probably a good time for him just to bide his time and see how it all plays out.
“But Blaize is a quality player and he’ll get his shot eventually, and I’m sure he’ll take that with both hands. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”
Edwards said Cole, a 21-year-old who played nine games for the Panthers last season including an appearance in the World Club Challenge, would be a reliable presence alongside Cleary.
“It shows great depth that we’ve got here to be able to sort of substitute Romey [Luai] in for someone like Blaize or Jack Cole. Obviously, it hurts losing Romey, but there are some great players there ready to fill,” Edwards said.
“He’s [Cole] trained really well in the off-season and gets his opportunity, and he’ll be really good for us.”
Brian To’o is set to miss the match with a hamstring injury, with Casey McLean and Paul Alamoti named on the wings. Edwards said the four-time premiership winning winger would be hard to replace.
Panthers playmaker Blaize Talagi.Credit: Getty Images
“He didn’t do anything with the team today, so, a lot the guys this sort of early stage of the week are doing their own bits and pieces, what they need to get done, but [we’ll] have to wait and see,” Edwards said. “I’m not sure. In my opinion, he’s the best winger in the comp, so that would be a massive loss.”
Prop Liam Henry is another Panther who will miss out as he continues his recovery from a shoulder injury.
Meanwhile, Hudson Young and Morgan Smithies have been named in Ricky Stuart’s starting 13 for the Raiders’ clash against the Warriors despite their involvement in a late-night fracas on Thursday. Rookie pair Owen Pattie and Savelio Tamale are set to make their NRL debuts.
Braydon Trindall has won the race to pair Nicho Hynes in the halves for Cronulla, with Dragons-bound utility Daniel Atkinson named to come off the bench.
The Herald’s travel expenses to Las Vegas have been partly funded by the NRL.
NRL is Live and Free on Channel 9 & 9Now