A halfback whose journey began in Adelaide and included stints with the Canberra Raiders and Hull KR will guide the three-time premiers around the field for the next month.
Brad Schneider signed with the Panthers as a back-up No.7, similar to the role Sean O’Sullivan played in 2022 and Jack Cogger last season.
Of German descent, and just the fourth Adelaide-born player in the past 50 years to feature in first grade – Brisbane’s Jordan Riki, Parramatta’s John Kolc and Cronulla’s Nathan Vagg all started out in the City of Churches – Schneider gets his chance against the Sydney Roosters on Thursday night.
He played 12 games with the Raiders, then took a mid-season move to Hull KR in the Super League last year before linking with Penrith for the next two years.
Nathan Cleary’s hamstring injury will now give him the chance to rest a foot problem that has plagued him since the pre-season, according to his coach father Ivan, who expects his superstar son to return after the bye in round seven.
Cleary’s injury also means Wests Tigers fans get an early glimpse of their future halfback Jarome Luai having to call the shots the next few weeks.
Brad Schneider replaces Nathan Cleary.Credit: Penrith Panthers
“I want him [Schneider] to play his own game and fit into our system,” Cleary said. “That’s why he came here, he’s followed a couple of other halves who have done well in that role over the last couple of years.
“Brad has made every post a winner since he’s got here, he’s trained hard, he’s a diligent kid, and had that first-grade experience in Canberra. He had some good experience in the UK as well. He’s looking forward to the opportunity, it’s why he came here, and I’m sure the boys will rally around him.”
Jack Cole slotted into the halves when Luai was injured for the World Club Challenge, but the youngster is on the comeback trail from a calf strain.
Panthers forward Liam Martin said of Schneider: “He works hard, he’s studied Nathan, he’s there learning off him at the end of training, similar to the last couple of halves who have stepped up. He doesn’t shy away from contact defensively, and a strong runner with good vision. He’ll be fine.”
Most fans thought Cleary was given an early mark against Brisbane last Thursday, but Ivan had spotted him pull up clutching his hamstring, and sent the message for him to come from the field.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary is expected back in round seven.Credit: Getty
It is the right hamstring, and not the same hamstring he injured last year.
“‘Nat’ seems to have a sabbatical every year – this one has come a bit earlier,” Cleary said. “He felt the same thing last year before he actually did it properly. The fact he had that experience has cut this one off a bit sooner.
“Hopefully he’s only out a couple of weeks. I knew about it as soon as it happened. We could tell there was something wrong. We went out and got him checked. We got the feedback it wasn’t too bad, it certainly wasn’t like last year, but there was no point keeping him being out there.
“He’s had a fascia injury in his foot since the pre-season. Sometimes that plays its part, and he’s struggled with that for a bit.
“This might be a silver lining where he can fix that up as well. He’ll let everyone else do the donkey work [now] and come in when the glory is on.”
In other team news, Adam Reynolds (knee) returns for Brisbane and their clash against North Queensland on Friday night, but have lost damaging back-rower Brendan Piakura who suffered an ankle injury at training. Tristan Sailor will start at fullback for the injured Reece Walsh (facial fracture).
South Sydney resisted wholesale changes with Dean Hawkins retaining the halfback gig ahead of Lachlan Ilias for the Good Friday clash against the Bulldogs.
And Corey Horsburgh will spend another week in reserve grade for Canberra’s clash against a front-row depleted Cronulla.