2020 season

[OldPanther]

Luai had his moments but aside from one game which was largely due to Kikau he hasn’t set the world on fire. Not his fault how he was used but still the case

Neither is a complete player I think we will really miss Maloney’s kicking to end sets. Luai will be good early in sets to do something different but I have doubts about his 5th tackle options. Burton the opposite

Which is why I would play both if it could be fit in. It would give creativity to the right side too

Interesting attempt at poisoning the well there. Luai had an epic game in that game and attributing his success to Kikau is wrong.

 

[franklin2323]

Interesting attempt at poisoning the well there. Luai had an epic game in that game and attributing his success to Kikau is wrong.

Wasn’t Hiku hooked in that game? The left side ran riot as a whole

 

[OldPanther]

Wasn’t Hiku hooked in that game? The left side ran riot as a whole

Yes that doesn't change how good Luai was. He hasn't hit that form since and if that's the point you went with I'd agree but you used Kikau to diminish Luai's game.

 

[franklin2323]

Yes that doesn't change how good Luai was. He hasn't hit that form since and if that's the point you went with I'd agree but you used Kikau to diminish Luai's game.

that is how it is with halves though like with Burton’s game. He was one of many good players on that night. If Naden doesn’t chase that kick for the try then he looks less impressive

Point is neither have runs on the board yet as an NRL half.

 

[Dave's mate]

Going to be interesting how Luai goes with Ivan being a hopeless coach of attack. His erratic play might help or it will go very wrong.

 

[OldPanther]

Going to be interesting how Luai goes with Ivan being a hopeless coach of attack. His erratic play might help or it will go very wrong.

Isn't Barrett doing it?

 

[OldPanther]

that is how it is with halves though like with Burton’s game. He was one of many good players on that night. If Naden doesn’t chase that kick for the try then he looks less impressive

Point is neither have runs on the board yet as an NRL half.

By your logic halves can't be rated as good ever.

 

[Dave's mate]

Isn't Barrett doing it?

Yeah he's been brought back to fix the attack, only issue is that he's very average too

 

[OldPanther]

Yeah he's been brought back to fix the attack, only issue is that he's very average too

If we go a glass half full mentality at least he's not Ivan who thinks the middle 3rd of the field is the entire field.

 

[franklin2323]

By your logic halves can't be rated as good ever.

they can if they are the constant. Freddie, JT, Joey could lift a despite who was in the side. Kikau/Blake were beasts last year regardless of who was the half on that side

 

[franklin2323]

Going to be interesting how Luai goes with Ivan being a hopeless coach of attack. His erratic play might help or it will go very wrong.

I can’t see him fixing the issue that is off set starts. He will make the half chances we blow better

 

[franklin2323]

Yeah he's been brought back to fix the attack, only issue is that he's very average too

He is good with attack that is about it

 

[OldPanther]

they can if they are the constant. Freddie, JT, Joey could lift a despite who was in the side. Kikau/Blake were beasts last year regardless of who was the half on that side

Except I didn't say Luai is a good NRL half I said he had a good game. You don't need to see someone be consistent over a season to say they played a single good game.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I think most can see he will leave. If Burton is good enough to push him out then so be it, one of them will end up leaving.

Burton you could probably keep for another couple of years, he’s still very young. But Luai is 23, he’s ready for FG. He’s not going to hang around to play in reserves or on the bench.

 

[Dave's mate]

Burton you could probably keep for another couple of years, he’s still very young. But Luai is 23, he’s ready for FG. He’s not going to hang around to play in reserves or on the bench.

We hope he's ready but he was very ordinary this year and yes I know he was used for poorly

 

[OldPanther]

We hope he's ready but he was very ordinary this year and yes I know he was used for poorly

The question is whether that ruined him permanently. A year is A long time to spend not practicing the skills you need and it's a real possibility that he doesn't reach the same level he would have if he was playing 80 minutes at half every week.

 

[betcats]

Burton you could probably keep for another couple of years, he’s still very young. But Luai is 23, he’s ready for FG. He’s not going to hang around to play in reserves or on the bench.

Burton will have clubs sniffing around for sure if he’s not playing fg somewhere by the end of the year. Clubs will be able to offer him deals for 2022 after November next year.

 

[OldPanther]

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/11/23/luai-welcomes-burton-battle-for-panthers-no.6-jersey/

Luai welcomes Burton battle for Panthers No.6 jersey

Jarome Luai has embraced the challenge from teenage playmaker Matt Burton for Penrith's vacant five-eighth spot, saying they will drive each other to improve.

Luai is expected to get first shot at replacing the departed James Maloney having waited patiently over the past two seasons, stepping up capably in the halves when required or playing off the bench.
But he knows that 19-year-old Burton is not far away after impressing this year in his first and only NRL appearance.

Burton has thrown down the gauntlet early by excelling in pre-season fitness drills. However, 22-year-old Luai can only see the battle as a good thing.

"We're helping each other out," Luai told NRL.com after training in oppressive heat and smoke on Thursday morning.

"Matty's a good kid and he's got some real talent. So we can help each other out and be more competitive and be hard on each other and we'll only become better players.

"There are always other boys fighting for spots and we've got a lot of young talent here, so I need a big pre-season to lock down that jersey."
The pair have an ideal mentor in former NSW and Australian pivot Trent Barrett, who has returned to the Panthers as an assistant to Ivan Cleary after a year in the coaching wilderness.

The ex-Manly coach is tasked with reinvigorating the team's attack after Penrith scored the fourth-fewest points in the league and missed the finals in 2019.

Luai, who remembers doing a kicking session with Barrett as a schoolboy a few years ago, said the 42-year-old's influence is already apparent.

"It's good to have him back now, he's been really awesome for us," Luai said.

"He runs all our attack. He's been really clinical in his explanation and simple as well.

"He explains everything as much as you need to and you're able to get out there and do what you need to do."
Luai, who returned to training on Monday, believes spending time as a livewire interchange forward last season has made him a more rounded playmaker.

"It's really helped my defence and I really respect the middle boys for the job that they do in there," the Samoan representative said.

"It's sort of opened my eyes a bit more to what's going on there in both offense and defence.

"It was a different kind of experience for me in there and it's something I'll take on board. I pretty much know what the boys are thinking in the middle now."
In Luai's favour in the race for the No.6 jumper is his connection with halfback Nathan Cleary, who he considers a "close mate".

The duo helped Penrith to the 2015 under-20s title and Luai hopes to enjoy similar success in the top grade.

"To have Nath there by my side is awesome," Luai said.

"Coming through the grades, SG Ball and all that, it's pretty cool to look back now and see how far we've come.

"We're different kinds of people and different personalities and it's pretty cool because we're different kinds of players as well."

They'll have to wait to rekindle their partnership at training, though, with Cleary currently on light duties as he recovers from foot surgery.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

Burton is a growing body, (I think I've asked this before, but my memory is shot, so I'll go again). Burton will eventually be too big for the halves and possibly would slot into the 2nd row not unlike Wade Graham did. He is rangy and very tall.

That's my prediction. I can see him comming off the bench in 20 (if he continues to smash it in pre season training) as a super sub and then move into the 2nd row when his body fills out. He might be on the smaller side for a 2nd rower but I think his mobility and speed would work just look at Peachy.

 

[Dave's mate]

Burton is a growing body, (I think I've asked this before, but my memory is shot, so I'll go again). Burton will eventually be too big for the halves and possibly would slot into the 2nd row not unlike Wade Graham did. He is rangy and very tall.

That's my prediction. I can see him comming off the bench in 20 (if he continues to smash it in pre season training) as a super sub and then move into the 2nd row when his body fills out. He might be on the smaller side for a 2nd rower but I think his mobility and speed would work just look at Peachy.

That's 5+ years away imo