Jarome Luai's eye-opening admission about Nathan Cleary amid halfback switch for Panthers

Jarome Luai has warned Penrith's NRL rivals that his stint at halfback in the absence of Nathan Cleary has filled him with confidence and helped him grow as a player. Cleary spent a lengthy stint on the sidelines with a hamstring injury but returned to kick his side to a stunning golden point win over the Dolphins last week, with Penrith coach Ivan Cleary resting Luai and the rest of his State of Origin stars.

Luai and Cleary will be reunited in the halves for the three-time defending premiers against St George Illawarra on Sunday though, with Luai to return to his regular No.6 role. The 27-year-old has thrived at halfback for the Panthers while Cleary has been out and revelled in the added responsibility that comes with being the team's chief playmaker.

The crafty No.6 took his confidence and form at club level into the State of Origin series for NSW and was one of the Blues' best in their series triumph. Luai's kicking game has gone to another level in the absence of Cleary and the Wests Tigers will be loving what they've seen from the the 27-year-old, who is set to wear the No.7 jumper for Benji Marshall's side next season.

Luai haș forced more dropouts in the past four matches than he did in all of 2022 and 2023 combined, showing just how much his kicking game has improved in Cleary's absence. And while Luai concedes that his role will once change again with Cleary back, the five-eighth says the growing confidence he's playing with makes the Panthers an even more dangerous proposition.

"Our team does change a lot with (Nathan) in the side. He is our go-to guy," Luai told AAP. "But the confidence that I've been able to get while he is out, I can definitely use that to support him. I'm just really confident about my footy at the moment and I don't want that to change. Coming into the game I definitely want to be a weapon that can free up some space for Nath."

Ivan Cleary says Jarome Luai's game has gone to another level

Penrith's coach echoed the thoughts of his five-eighth and says Luai's game has gone to another level in 2024, providing the already deadly Panthers with even more options in attack. "We've been working on just evolving their combination for a couple of years. Jarome's time playing No.7 will only help that," Ivan Cleary said. "Jarome has gone to new levels this year in Nat's absence. It's just evolving, trying to give the opposition some different looks, and give those two boys the opportunity to get into position where they are most dangerous."

Luai says his Panthers teammates have also stepped up in the absence of their inspirational halfback and makes them a more formidable side leading into the finals. "I think everyone should have that mindset, to use their weapons to the best of their ability," Luai added. "It frees a lot of the other players up. If I can give my boys that confidence as well to be the same, it will be big for us leading into the finals."

RELATED:

• Reece Walsh in fresh scare as Broncos make change for Dogs clash

• Latrell Mitchell in huge update for Souths amid season-ending fears

• Brisbane Broncos cop big blow as assistant coach confirms exit

Penrith are chasing a fourth straight premiership in 2024 and coach Ivan Cleary has labelled the next two months the "last ride" for Luai and Cleary, who first teamed up in the Under-16s for Penrith. If the duo can complete a fourth straight grand final victory together this season they will be the first halves pairing since St George's Brian Clay and Bob Bugden in 1961 to achieve the feat.

with AAP