There has been loads of change out at Penrith within the low season, however one factor which has stayed the identical in rugby league is the unhealthy give attention to seemingly regular acts out west which rile up followers on social media.
Nathan Cleary is the newest star to cop it from followers when he tapped his arm after a clutch sideline conversion on the weekend to sign that he has ice in his veins.
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The kick from his non-preferred facet despatched the World Club Challenge into golden level, prompting the consultant playmaker to have a good time like he and his teammates have achieved all through their two years of dominance.
Some individuals launched into conspiracy theories about what the gesture meant, however halves accomplice Jarome Luai defended him, claiming Cleary is many issues however he’s not big-headed.
St Helen’s win World Club Challenge! | 02:59
“Big head? Nah, definitely not,” Luai mentioned of the “Iceman”.
“He has earned what he has got and where he is at now. He has worked every metre for it. He will keep doing his thing and he has my full support.
“That’s all in the moment. That was a pretty big pressure kick that he pulled off. He has stepped up in a lot of those moments. If people are talking crap about that, it’s pretty crazy because he has stepped up in a lot of those moments.
“He’s probably our go-to guy and he is always going to step up in the big moments.”
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Cleary’s heroics with the boot weren’t sufficient to win Penrith its first World Club Challenge as St Helens landed the killer blow in extra-time to grab a shock 13-12 win.
The Panthers aren’t used to dropping and Luai says Saturday’s outcome was “a reality check” two weeks out from their two-time premiership defence.
It’ll be a brand new problem for Luai on the left edge this yr with Fijian wrecking ball Viliame Kikau now on the Bulldogs.
The Panthers missed his grunt on the sting however Luai is assured new recruit Luke Garner will make the spot his personal, even when it takes some time to gel.
“Kiks has always been there on my side, but that’s what footy is about. It’s changing, and teams change,” the Samoan star mentioned.
“But I am stoked to have ‘Garns’ next to me. We have had a pretty good five weeks together. I am happy to have got out there and had our first hit out and continue on the combination.
“It’s a building thing and it’s a long year. It was our first game, and I didn’t expect our best footy in the first game of the year.”
Kikau isn’t the one large loss from their premiership squad, with Api Koroisau now at Wests Tigers.
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Mitch Kenny dealt with himself properly on Saturday evening however it’s going to take some time for him and the backbone to get in sync as they get used to life with out their artful champion.
“I have played a lot of footy with Mitch and know what he is capable of,” Luai mentioned.
“He is an awesome footy player. We need him to be great for our footy side this year and I have real confidence in Mitch.
“We faced that challenge last year; we lost some players. And the year before that. It’s going to be the same every year. That’s what NRL is about. It’s about adapting and evolving your game. That’s what we look forward to doing.”
There might be extra modifications subsequent yr when Stephen Crichton joins the Bulldogs, and Luai made it clear he has nothing however love for his good mate after the fill-in fullback got here up with a lot of essential errors towards St Helens.
Crichton slumped to the bottom after the profitable discipline objective and was consoled by all of his teammates, with Luai ensuring he was the primary one to assist his good friend.
“That’s my boy, and he’s gone through a lot,” Luai mentioned.
“He has done it all and he is still young. I think it’s important – being a bit more experienced now than some of the others to get around the younger boys when they need it.”
Source web site: www.foxsports.com.au
