LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Penrith recruit Blaize Talagi has once again been left out of the starting side by coach Ivan Cleary, with Kiwi Test star Casey McLean also dropped for the Panthers' game against Souths.
Talagi, who was expected to partner Jack Cole in Nathan Cleary's absence, will have to settle for a spot on the interchange bench.
This decision comes after Talagi was brought to the club with high expectations but has yet to secure a regular starting spot.
Cleary, however, remains optimistic about Talagi's potential, stating, "He's certainly got that NRL quality about him, but there's still a long way to go as well."
In a surprising move, Cleary has handed Trent Toelau a start at halfback in place of the injured Nathan Cleary.
Toelau, who has never started a game in the NRL before, impressed in pre-season trials and played a key role in a win over Manly.
Despite Toelau's emergence, Talagi will have to continue waiting for his chance to prove himself in the starting lineup.
The Panthers have made several changes for the upcoming game, with Daine Laurie returning at fullback and Paul Alamoti shifting to the wing to replace McLean.
Young gun Tom Jenkins has been rewarded with a start in the centres after a strong performance last week.
The decision to drop McLean and shake up the starting lineup reflects Cleary's desire to find the winning formula for the Panthers.
Overall, Talagi's latest snub highlights the competitive nature of the Panthers' squad and the challenges of breaking into the starting side.
Despite this setback, Cleary remains confident in Talagi's abilities and sees potential for him to make an impact in the NRL.
As Cleary stated, "He wouldn't be here if we didn't see a lot of future in him." Talagi will need to continue working hard and biding his time to earn a regular spot in the Panthers' lineup.