LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Ivan Cleary has confirmed reports star recruit Blaize Talagi is not quite up to speed with the systems and structures at Penrith, after explaining the 19-year-old's shock omission from their Las Vegas season opener.
The Panthers coach sprang his first major shock of the new season by naming Jack Cole at No.6 for Sunday's Vegas showdown against Cronulla, and Talagi amongst the reserves.
That's despite Penrith signing the ex-Parramatta young gun as their long-term No.6, following the departure of former Panthers fan favourite Jarome Luai to the Wests Tigers.
Most expected Talagi to start the new season in the halves alongside co-captain and champion No.7 Nathan Cleary, but the 19-year-old will have to bide his time.
Talagi did undergo off-season shoulder surgery and there was a sense Penrith's coach was reluctant to risk his young recruit so early in the season.
But veteran league journalist Brent Read floated a theory on NRL 360 this week that the decision to leave Talagi out was based more around his challenges adapting to the intricate defensive and attacking structures at this generation's greatest team.
"I think the issue was that he had a shoulder reconstruction in the off-season so he wasn't with the team all the time on the park," Read said.
"But I don't think he is as advanced as maybe they thought he would be in terms of his football knowledge and football nous.
"They are very confident he'll get there eventually but for the time being, the Panthers believe Jack Cole is the right man to play five-eighth alongside Nathan Cleary.
Blaize has signed a long-term deal there and he's only 19 so time is on his side."
Panthers coach Cleary has now confirmed those reports about Taalgi adapting to Penrith's systems but admitted it would take some work and pointed out that the teen had plenty of time on his side.
"Blaize's time will come.
He's only a young man," Cleary said.
"He's got to work out the system a bit and he's just coming off a shoulder reco.
His time will come."