Nathan Cleary has thrown his full support behind Mitch Kenny, warning critics will be proven wrong when Penrith’s new No.9 steps out on Saturday night to replace premiership-winning star Api Koroisau.
Koroisau’s move to the Tigers in the off-season has opened the door for Kenny to make the starting spot his own after biding his time on the bench for a number of years.
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Kenny’s biggest strength is his defence, which is why Panthers coach Ivan Cleary started him in all three finals matches last year so he could blunt Penrith’s opponents before Koroisau came on after 20 minutes to run rings around the gassed defenders.
Losing someone with so much cunning around the ruck raises questions over whether Penrith’s reign is about to end, but Kenny’s teammates are backing him to make the role his own as they push for three titles on the trot.
“They can do what they want, but I’m very confident he’ll prove them wrong. I have full faith in Mitch and I trust him as much as I trust anyone in the team,” Cleary said.
“Api is a big loss. I don’t think there are too many players who can do what Api does in the comp, but we’ve got to play to Mitch’s strengths. I think he showed that through the finals series last year.
“He’s one of our best players and he’s definitely underrated with what he’s done for our team and he drives the culture with what we want to be like. He’s a hard worker, a great defender and he’s constantly trying to develop and adapt to our style.”
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Kenny, 25, has seen the comments online from his detractors, but he’s not fazed by the scepticism and says people are entitled to question his credentials given he’s yet to prove himself consistently at this level.
“It doesn’t annoy me,” he said.
“I think it’s natural because he (Koroisau) is one of the game’s premier hookers. I’m pretty unproven and haven’t played much first grade, so of course those discussions are going to be had. It doesn’t bother me too much.
“There’s always pressure, but especially getting a starting role in a team as good as this, there is probably a bit of added pressure. I look to those things internally and judge my criticism with stuff like that off the people here in this building.”
Starting those finals matches and winning the title instilled a great deal of confidence in the local junior, but he knows this season is a major step up from that niche role where he tallied 110 minutes in three games.
It’s unclear whether he’ll be asked to play 80 minutes at any stage this season, with Jaeman Salmon and Soni Luke on deck to ease the load, but Kenny says he’s got the motor to do the job if required.
“I think it’s in me. I’m pretty fit,” he said ahead of the World Club Challenge.
“It’s one thing to be fit and play 80 minutes, and it’s another thing to be out there for 80 minutes and be effective the whole time. I’ll get a gauge of that, but I’d like to be (out there for 80 minutes).”
Kenny will get the chance to test out his new combinations with Cleary and the rest of the squad in Saturday’s clash against St Helens where the Panthers are aiming to win their first World Club Challenge.
The past two matches have been cancelled because of the pandemic, but fans finally get the chance to see a battle for the ages between the two-time defending NRL premiers and the four-time Super League champions.
“It’s a unique situation for us because we haven’t been able to play in one yet,” Cleary said.
“It’s a great challenge, and a team like St Helens deserves our utmost respect because they’ve won four comps in a row which is pretty unbelievable. It’s a great opportunity for us and the club because we’ve never won one before.”
