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Jack Cole will continue his role as Penrith’s Northern Hemisphere specialist on Saturday - getting the nod ahead of new recruit Blaize Talagi to take on Cronulla at Allegiant Stadium.
The Panthers trained at suburban James Regional Sports Park in Las Vegas on Monday ahead of coach Ivan Cleary announcing his team, with winger Brian To’o having limited involvement due to a hamstring injury which has ultimately seen him ruled out.
Cole, a 21-year-old from Orange, deputised for Jarome Luai in the World Club Challenge last year. He’d played one first grade game previously and nine more since, with another big moment in the spotlight north of the equator now awaiting.
“He’s still really learning and really trying to take everything in here as well," Panthers fullback Dylan Edwards said of Parramatta signing Talagi.
“So it’s probably just a really good time for him bide his time and see how it all plays out.
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Nice touch from Cole
“Blaize is a quality player and he’ll get his shot eventually. I’m sure he’ll take it with both hands. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.
“The club’s recruited really well. It shows great depth that we’ve really got here to be able to substitute Romey for someone like Blaize or Jack Cole.
“It hurts losing Romey but there’s some great players there ready to fill in.”
Cole - who forward Moses Leota said ‘brings us a good running game’ - could not get the win in the World Club Challenge against Wigan on February 24 last year but Edwards said: “I remember it was a tough game and I thought he played really well.
“I expect nothing less from Jack Cole. He trained really well in the off-season. He gets his opportunity and he’ll be really good for us.”
Quizzed on To’o’s fitness, Edwards said: “He’s, in my opinion, the best player in the comp so he’ll be a massive loss.”
Still in Panthers injury news, Liam Henry is unavailable due to a shoulder injury and fullback Dylan Edwards moved to allay any concerns over his own troublesome shoulder.
“It’s good to go,” Edwards insisted. “I had a good pre-season, I’ve done a fair bit of contact work, as many reps as I can fit in.”
Leota was asked who, with the departure of James Fisher-Harris to the Warriors, would be his “bash brother” in 2025.
“All of them,” he said. “The whole forward pack.”
Kiwis sensation Casey McLean comes in on the wing after scoring four tries on Test debut against the Kumuls in the Pacific Championships in November.
The Sharks too have had injury concerns of their own, with youngster Sam Stonestreet named on the wing in place of Sione Katoa, who suffered a shoulder injury in the opening Pre-Season Challenge clash on February 7.
The Tongan international is facing four to five months on the sidelines after undergoing a shoulder reconstruction.
In good news however, centre Jesse Ramien is back in the side after missing the preliminary final against the Panthers last year with an ankle injury.
Match: Panthers v Sharks
Round 1 -
home Team
Panthers
6th Position
away Team
Sharks
12th Position
Venue: Allegiant Stadium, Las Vegas
