Panthers superstar Nathan Cleary is backing his potential halves partner Jack Cogger to step up ahead of a huge finals campaign if Jarome Luai’s season is over.
The gun five-eighth suffered an ugly shoulder dislocation against the Eels, getting caught underneath backrower Bryce Cartwright.
Coach Ivan Cleary revealed Penrith medicos were “positive” Luai had avoided a serious injury but explained they will have to wait for results of scans before making a decision.
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“It’s obviously a decent injury but they are fairly positive about the potential of it but really we won’t know anymore until tomorrow,” Cleary said in the post-match press conference.
“Yeah (there is concern he could miss the finals). There are concerns on the team front but for Jarome personally.
“There’s often a lot of injuries this time of the year in and around the finals but we have to wait for the results and whatever happens we will come up with a plan and go from there.”
Nathan Cleary also admitted Luai was a crucial figure for the Panthers but backed Jack Cogger to stand tall if called upon.
Cogger, who has signed a three-year deal with the Knights ahead of the 2024 season, played an important role filling in for Cleary after his hamstring injury during the Origin period.
“It sucks, you don’t want to see someone get injured ever let alone one of your good mates as he’s such an important cog in our team,” Cleary said.
“But that’s the game we play and these things happen. Hoping for good results for him but if not we just have to keep moving forward.
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“I’m confident and I have faith in (our partnership). Cogs (Cogger) has played enough first grade games in his career to know what to do and he’s got a cool head on his shoulders too.
“So we can keep developing that. Obviously hoping Jarome is alright but I’m pretty confident and have a lot of faith that Cogs and I can get the job done too.”
The Panthers were without Mitch Kenny, Scott Sorensen, Izack Tago and Dylan Edwards due to lingering injuries while Sunia Turuva was rested.
The Broncos are now in a prime position to snatch the minor premiership away from Penrith and will be outright ladder leaders if they beat Canberra.
Cleary now has to decide how important a minor premiership is for his team, but his plans haven’t changed going in to Round 27.
“Not at all to be honest, it only reinforced (my plans),” Cleary said.
We’ve been in this position for the last four years so we’ve done it differently each year from 2020 to 2022.
“So on that basis we’ve made the grand final each time, so you’d think each one of those methods have worked. I don’t know the exact answer.”
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