Panthers trio Liam Martin, Blaize Talagi and Dylan Edwards firming for Vegas opener after in-house clash

In a strong sign four-time premiers the Panthers will be full strength for the season opener against Cronulla in a fortnight, their injured stars made it through a private opposed session unscathed.

Penrith trio Blaize Talagi, Dylan Edwards and Liam Martin are all firming to play Round 1 in Las Vegas after getting through an in-house opposed session across the weekend.

In a sign the four-time premiers will be full strength for the season opener against Cronulla in a fortnight, skipper Nathan Cleary as well as Talagi, Edwards and Martin survived the session unscathed as they return from off-season shoulder problems.

All but Clive Churchill Medallist Martin went under the knife over the summer, but all four have been nursed back to health with progression to full contact over the pre-season.

Liam Martin, Blaize Talagi and Dylan Edwards are on track to playing in their Vegas NRL opener.

“I avoided surgery, had the AC trouble last year but didn’t need surgery,” Martin said last week.

“The rest was good for it, to scar up and heal and it’s done that, so it’s been feeling really good. It’s filled me with confidence this pre-season and I’ve hit the ground running.”

Star fullback Edwards underwent the same procedure as Panthers skipper Nathan Cleary immediately following the end of the Pacific Championships in mid-November, and was the last player to return to training in January.

His return to play was between 14 and 16 weeks, which puts him right in the frame to face the Sharks in Sin City.

Saturday’s opposed session was part of the weekly training schedule for Panthers but took on higher importance given the lack of game time for the premiers heading into Round 1.

A scheduled trial match with NSW Cup side North Sydney was cancelled, while their first game of the pre-season challenge was on February 8, with only a select few first graders including Daine Laurie and Isaiah Papali’i named.

Their second trial against Manly on Friday will have a similar level of experience with the club’s NRL players flying to Vegas later this week.

Meanwhile, the Sea Eagles are not expected to roll out their big guns for the double-header at Leichhardt Oval.

Tom and Jake Trbojevic, Daly Cherry-Evans and Haumole Olakau’atu are all expected to miss the club’s final trial ahead of their Round 1 clash with North Queensland on March 8.

Prop Taniela Paseka will also be missing after sustaining a minor shoulder injury on Saturday but he’s been cleared to face the Cowboys in Round 1.

Originally published as Panthers trio Liam Martin, Blaize Talagi and Dylan Edwards firming for Vegas opener after in-house clash