Nathan Cleary says he's refreshed and ready to go as the Panthers eye off another piece of silverware against Super League champions St Helens in Saturday's World Club Challenge.
Cleary, who featured prominently for the Kangaroos at the World Cup after another dominant campaign for the Panthers during 2022, said he was excited by the opportunity to take part in his first World Club Challenge game, and the first fixture between the Australian and England rugby league champions since 2020.
“Obviously a unique situation for us, we haven't been able to play in one yet [due to Covid],” Cleary said on Thursday. “It's obviously a great challenge as well and a team like St Helens, they deserve our upmost respect.
"They have won four comps in a row; it's pretty unbelievable really.
“I am really look forward to the challenge that that possesses on Saturday night and it is a great opportunity for us in the club because we've never won one before.”
Penrith will face the Saints at BlueBet Stadium on Saturday, with Cleary recognising the benefit that playing at home will have – the first World Club Challenge fixture to take place on Australian soil since the Storm's triumph over Leeds in 2018.
“It does help a bit [the game being in Australia], particularly with travel and all that sort of stuff and being able to at home in front of our fans, it's pretty cool,” Cleary said. “Definitely grateful to be playing here.”
After fielding a largely similar side over the past two seasons, Penrith will roll out somewhat of a new-look lineup for Saturday's game, with fans eager to see how the side will make up for notable off-season departures, including Api Koroisau and Viliame Kikau, as well as an injury to Clive Churchill Medal winner Dylan Edwards.
Edwards is expected to be available for Round 1, but his absence from Saturday's game will see Stephen Crichton shift from centre to fullback.
“(Dylan) just had a little just a minor injury thing, so they didn't want to risk him too much. He should be right for Round 1, though,” Cleary said.
“Api is a big loss, I don't think there’s too many players that can do what Api does in the competition, but we've got to play to Mitch [Kenny’s] strengths. I think he showed that through the final series last year that he's one of our best players.
“Especially in the past, any time Critter’s [Stephen Crichton] has gone back to fullback, he's done a really good job. So as much at Dyl’s a massive loss, it’s obviously a great opportunity for Critter.
It's a great opportunity for our club: Cleary
“He’s definitely underrated in what he's done for our team and sort of driving the culture as well of what we want to be like. He is hard working and great defender, and he's constantly trying to develop and adapt to our style. They are definitely two different types of players, but they're both very well respected amongst our group.
“Api and Kiks (Kikau) are two players that are very hard to replace," Cleary said. "I don't think there's two other players in the comp that can do what they do, but I'm very confident the people that we bring through.
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“Obviously, Luke Garner's come to the club now – he's a great player, different to Kikau but I think he brings his own sort of strengths.
“I've never really known him; I've just watched him playing for the Tigers and always admired what he could do, so just been able to train alongside him has been impressive in knowing what he can bring to our team.I'm really looking forward to playing alongside him and just building that combination as we go.
"He's also very keen to learn, he's constantly doing video and asking questions and I think that's saying something very impressive about him and something we very much welcome at this club.”
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Cleary won't be the only Panthers star to return after a strong World Cup campaign with Samoan international Brian To'o eager to face off against on a number of St Helens players which his side triumphed over in their memorable semi-final.
“(While I have played against some of them before) it's kind of like a new ball game, "To'o said. "It's obviously a different team but the same players.
"There were obviously heaps of quality players from the England side and they pretty much showed that throughout the whole comp of the World Cup.”
“They looked in a pretty solid throughout the game against Dragons, so it should be a good game.”
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