The Penrith coach wasn’t impressed by what he saw against the Roosters.
Ivan Cleary is reportedly set to swing the axe after the Penrith Panthers’ embarrassing loss to the Roosters last weekend, with young winger Casey McLean said to be on the chopping block. The Panthers were expected to put a cricket score on the Roosters in Round 2, but instead found themselves on the wrong end of a shock 38-32 loss.
Cleary’s side will face the Melbourne Storm on Thursday night in a blockbuster rematch of the 2024 grand final. The Panthers will need to lift their game if they want to beat Craig Bellamy’s side, who put 56 points on the Eels in the opening round before a bye last week.
And according to Penrith-based journalist Peter Lang, teenage winger McLean is set to be left out of the Panthers side. The 18-year-old made his Test debut for New Zealand last year and has been tipped for a breakout season in 2025.
But he struggled under the high ball against the Roosters and made a number of errors. McLean scored a try, made two line-breaks and broke six tackles, but his work in defence would have been a huge concern for Cleary. The teenager missed two tackles and made three errors, including two drops when trying to defuse bombs.
According to Lang, Cleary is set to go with Thomas Jenkins on the wing in place of McLean, with Jenkins posing a safer option under high balls. With the Storm possessing aerial threats on both wings with Xavier Coates and William Warbrick, Cleary looks keen on giving Jenkins a chance to show what he can do. Jenkins has played 11 NRL games to date and has been strong in NSW Cup to start the season.
With Dylan Edwards facing at least two weeks on the sidelines with a groin issue, Daine Laurie will likely be handed the starting fullback spot. Lang is reporting that Brad Schneider will be promoted to the first-grade team to fill the utility role on the bench, with Jack Cole set to retain his spot at five-eighth despite a lukewarm start to the season.
Update your settings here to see it.
Update your settings here to see it.
Update your settings here to see it.
Blaize Talagi switch on the cards for Panthers?
Tellingly, Lang also reported that Blaize Talagi played right centre in NSW Cup last weekend, with Trent Toelau at No.6. Talagi was a high-profile recruit for the Panthers in the off-season, making the switch from Parramatta so he could play his preferred position of five-eighth.
But Cleary went with Cole at No.6 to start the year, making Talagi bide his time in reserve grade. But the fact Talagi played centre last weekend suggests the plan might have changed, and many are suggesting Izack Tago (who plays right centre in the first-grade team) might be in the firing line.
Update your settings here to see it.
Speaking after the loss to the Roosters, Cleary said his side “underestimated’ their under-strength rivals. “That game was lost before we got here, I think, for whatever reason,” he said.
“We never got here thinking we were going to be perfect and that’s never something we talk about. Even in the first round we weren’t perfect at all. But there were enough players tonight that weren’t anywhere near their best. Collectively, we didn’t play anywhere near what we’d like to.”
Leave a Reply