Jack Cole will get first crack at Penrith’s number six jersey after the Panthers opted to go without star recruit Blaize Talagi in Las Vegas.
In a big first Tuesday teams drop of 2025, Penrith confirmed they will not play Talagi against Cronulla following off-season shoulder surgery.
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Winger Brian To’o will also miss the marquee clash at Allegiant Stadium, after failing to recover from a hamstring strain in time to play.
The injury means teenager Casey McLean and Paul Alamoti will play on the wings for Penrith, with second-rower Luke Garner moving to the centres.
Isaiah Papali’i will also come off the bench in his first game for the club, while Luron Patea has earned a call-up with Liam Henry nursing a shoulder after Sunia Turuva exited for Wests Tigers at the end of last year.
Cronulla’s team has far fewer surprises with Sam Stonestreet winning the race to replace the injured Sione Katoa on the wing.
Katoa is expected to miss at least half of the season following surgery, after being hurt in the club’s opening trial match.
Canberra have made the call to blood two rookies for their match against the Warriors, with 20-year-old Savelio Tamale to start on the wing after Albert Hopoate stayed home for the birth of his child.
Tamale debuted for St George Illawarra against Canberra in the final round of last season, after having already agreed to head to the Raiders in 2025.
Uncapped dummy-half Owen Pattie has also been named to debut off the bench, after impressing in the Raiders’ pre-season trial win over Penrith.
At the Warriors, Chanel Harris-Tavita has beaten out Te Maire Martin for the number six jersey with the 25-year-old to partner Luke Metcalf in the halves.
But it is the Panthers who face the most change with a number of stars racing to be fit for the start of their tilt at a fifth straight premiership.
Fullback Dylan Edwards has recovered from a knee injury to play, while superstar halfback Nathan Cleary and second-rower Liam Martin have both overcome shoulder issues.
Talagi was expected to play after his own shoulder injury, but Penrith opted to leave him on ice.
It is expected he will eventually earn a shot at the number six jersey which had been held by Jarome Luai, with the stint on the sideline also allowing him more time to fit into the Panthers’ system.
“He is still really learning and really trying to just take everything in here as well,” Edwards said.
“It’s a good time for him to bide his time and see how everything works out.
“Blaize is a quality player, he will get his shot eventually and I am sure he will take it with both hands. It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when.”
Raiders squad: 1 Kaeo Weekes, 2 Savelio Tamale, 3 Matthew Timoko, 4 Sebastian Kris, 5 Xavier Savage, 6 Ethan Strange, 7 Jamal Fogarty, 8 Corey Horsburgh, 9 Tom Starling, 10 Joseph Tapine, 11 Hudson Young, 12 Zac Hosking, 13 Morgan Smithies, 14 Owen Pattie, 15 Simi Sasagi, 16 Josh Papali’i, 17 Ata Mariota, 18 Danny Levi, 19 Trey Mooney, 20 Ethan Sanders, 21 Chevy Stewart, 22 Jed Stuart
Warriors squad: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Taine Tuaupiki, 3 Ali Leiataua, 4 Adam Pompey, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Mitchell Barnett, 11 Kurt Capewell, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark, 14 Dylan Walker, 15 Jackson Ford, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Leka Halasima, 18 Samuel Healey, 20 Te Maire Martin, 21 Eddie Ieremia, 22, Bunty Afoa, 23 Edward Kosi
Panthers squad: 1 Dylan Edwards, 2 Casey McLean, 3 Izack Tago, 4 Luke Garner, 5 Paul Alamoti, 6 Jack Cole, 7 Nathan Cleary, 8 Moses Leota, 9 Mitch Kenny, 10 Lindsay Smith, 11 Scott Sorensen, 12 Liam Martin, 13 Isaah Yeo, 14 Daine Laurie, 15 Isaiah Papali’i, 16 Matt Eisenhuth, 17 Luron Patea, 18 Brad Schneider, 19 Mavrik Geyer, 20 Jesse McLean, 21 Luke Sommerton, 23 Blaize Talagi
Sharks squad: 1 William Kennedy, 2 Samuel Stonestreet, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 Kayal Iro, 5 Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6 Braydon Trindall, 7 Nicho Hynes, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Oregon Kaufusi, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Teig Wilton, 13 Cameron McInnes, 14 Daniel Atkinson, 15 Siosifa Talakai, 16 Braden Hamlin-Uele, 17 Thomas Hazelton, 18 Tuku Hau Tapuha, 19 Mawene Hiroti, 20 Billy Burns, 21 Jayden Berrell, 22 Hohepa Puru
AAP