LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
Nathan Cleary has come out in support of his Penrith Panthers teammate Blaize Talagi, who has been left out of the starting team by coach Ivan Cleary despite high expectations.
Cleary praised Talagi's skills and attitude, acknowledging the challenges of transitioning to the NRL as a young player.
Despite calls from fans and former players like Billy Slater to give Talagi more game time, Cleary explained that the young five-eighth is still developing and learning the nuances of the position.
Talagi has only had limited game time this season, and was once again omitted from the team for the upcoming game against the Cowboys.
Cleary's return from a concussion will see him back in the lineup, but he remains confident in Talagi's abilities and potential.
"He's really eager to learn and pick it up and I think it's easy to forget how young he is and how raw he is," Cleary said of Talagi.
Despite the confusion and disappointment surrounding Talagi's lack of playing time, the Panthers are hopeful that he will continue to grow and eventually secure a more permanent spot in the team.