Luai answers ‘main man’ question amid Cleary void; Panthers ‘rock’ stands up: What we learned
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Luai answers ‘main man’ question amid Cleary void; Panthers ‘rock’ stands up:
No Nathan Cleary? No worries! Jarome Luai and Isaah Yeo looked right at home steering the ship in the star halfback’s absence.
Cleary suffered a shoulder injury in Round 24 and isn’t due back until finals. The Panthers lost last week without him but this week, Luai and Yeo stepped up to show the three-peat champions will be just fine until their chief playmaker returns.
Jarome Luai set up three tries in the win, while also finishing with a linebreak, a linebreak assist, a tackle bust, three offloads and 60 running metres.
“He’s been outstanding in the absence of Nathan Cleary. He’s really stood tall in the No.7 jersey,” Fox League’s Corey Parker said.
“He’s been terrific in which the way he’s approached the game, particularly defensively, but offensively just really running the ship for the Panthers.
“He’s been his energetic best, running the football and creating all sorts of indecisive moments in the defensive line.”
Champion halfback Cooper Cronk was equally impressed with what Luai was doing at halfback.
“When he signed with the Tigers as their main man and probably to wear the No.7 for Benji Marshall, there was a lot of pressure. But he has delivered this year with no Nathan Cleary,” Cronk said.
“It looks like he enjoys the responsibility and his performance of managing, making good decisions and still being that threat that can break open the line — he’s put it together.”
Meanwhile, Yeo was at his absolute best, producing a captain’s knock on home turf. Yeo set up a try, got a linebreak, a linebreak assist five tackle busts, 142 running metres and a well-deserved try in the 70th minute. He also made a team-high of 34 tackles with no misses.
“It’s amazing that when your club is under pressure after two losses, your best players and leaders stand up,” Cronk said.
“Isaah Yeo, along with Jarome Luai have been fantastic tonight.
“The numbers don’t show the work (Yeo) puts through the field week-in, week-out. Whether it’s for NSW, Australia or Penrith, he is the glue, he is the rock that holds Penrith’s middle third together.”