Staines a ready made replacement if Mayday call comes

After being cut from the squad which took home last year’s premiership, Panthers winger Charlie Staines once again finds himself on standby for the biggest game on the NRL calendar.

Staines was called up to replace the injured Taylan May in the Preliminary Final win over Souths and now waits on tenterhooks as May is given until Wednesday to prove his fitness ahead of the decider.

No stranger to the 'wait and see' scenario, Staines was named as a reserve in last year’s extended squad as an emergency replacement for an fullback Dylan Edwards, who was carrying a foot injury.

"I was obviously itching to get out there with the boys in last year’s finals and grand final, but I’ve just got to prepare like I always do and be ready if I get the call-up again,” Staines told NRL.com following Penrith’s 32-12 win over the Rabbitohs on Saturday.

“I’ll just prepare all week like I’m playing and do everything I can to get right for the game.

“I’ve just got to focus on what I can do for the team and be ready to play 80 minutes against a quality side.”

After playing the first eight games of the season on the right wing, Staines has bounced between reserve-grade fullback and first-grade replacement, always getting his job done with a minimum of fuss regardless of the occasion.

The Samoan representative didn’t look out of place out wide on Saturday in what was just his second NRL final, chalking up 117 run metres from 12 carries and getting across the stripe for a 'try' that was called back by the bunker.

“I felt like I was ready for the game, I’d played a fair bit of wing in the NRL this year and when I got the call-up and I was ready to go,” he said.

“I was a bit nervous but pretty excited. All the energy from the boys definitely helps, seeing them ready to go definitely made me feel a bit better.

“I think I’ve been going pretty well, it’s obviously a big step from Cup to first grade but I feel like I’ve sort of found my feet and I’ve enjoyed playing wing. And I was glad I could put in a good performance tonight.

“Finals are pretty physical, everyone’s fit and can go for 80 minutes. These games are also a mental test as well, you’ve got to back yourself and know you can beat every team.”

With Parramatta and Penrith set to ignite a historical battle between two proud Western Sydney clubs, Staines' presence would bring joy to a proud community of supporters even further west.

Hailing from Forbes, the Panthers prodigy will no doubt have the small Central West community backing the defending champs all the way, whether he gets a start or not.

“My family still live in Forbes but mum, my dad and my sister were all here to watch me tonight. They try and come down every weekend, it’s a bit of a trek but they still like to get to every game here,” he said.

“It’s a four-hour drive and they used to drive me up every week to play SG Ball, so they’ve been doing the drive to Sydney for a few years now.

“I really appreciate everything they do. I can’t really thank them enough."