Talagi arrival could be making of Cole at Penrith: Luai

Jarome Luai has hinted that Blaize Talagi’s arrival at Penrith could play a key role in the development of Jack Cole, as the two young talents prepare to compete for the soon-to-be vacant No. 6 jersey.

With Luai set to join Wests Tigers next year, Penrith faces one of their biggest challenges yet—finding the right player to partner Nathan Cleary in the halves. Jack Cole had been the anticipated successor, having already made an appearance in the World Club Challenge and eight NRL games this season. However, Talagi, a promising young playmaker arriving from Parramatta, adds a new dynamic to the competition for the role.

Luai acknowledged the uncertainty surrounding who will take over his position but believes the competition will be beneficial for the club. He recalled his own experience facing competition from Matt Burton for the five-eighth spot in 2020, a challenge that ultimately brought out the best in both players and contributed to Penrith’s three consecutive premierships.

“Competition is healthy; it’s good for a team,” Luai said. “I had to go through that with Matt Burton back in the day. That brought the best out of both of us.”

He praised Talagi’s talent and potential but also expressed confidence in Cole’s abilities, suggesting that if Penrith opts for Cole, he would be well-suited to the role.

More immediately, Luai and the Panthers are focused on their upcoming clash with ladder leaders Melbourne on Thursday night. A win is crucial for Penrith to remain in contention for the minor premiership, while a loss could jeopardize their position in the top two, potentially costing them a home-ground advantage in the finals.

While Penrith has had recent success against Melbourne, winning five of their last seven encounters, Luai emphasized that the Storm has long been the benchmark for the Panthers.

“They’ve been the benchmark for a lot longer than five years for us,” Luai said. “We always look forward to trying to chase them and what they’ve done in the game for the past decade.”

Regardless of the outcome on Thursday night, Luai downplayed any notion of carrying an advantage into the finals, stating that consistency throughout the season matters, but the finals are a different challenge altogether.

Penrith is expected to welcome back Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris for the match, which will help offset the losses of Liam Martin (suspension) and Scott Sorensen (hamstring).

<div  id='HB_Footer_Close_hbagency_space_105030'>
 <div id='HB_CLOSE_hbagency_space_105030'></div>
 <div id='HB_OUTER_hbagency_space_105030'>
<div id='hbagency_space_105030'></div>
 </div></div>