Panthers winger Brian To'o says he made it a goal to fill the gulf left by Josh Mansour's departure this year while his skipper has branded him an "absolute freak" who deserves to be in the Origin conversation.
A few expletives from Mitch Moses, a blunt assessment from Brad Arthur and even a stray, jaw-breaking boot from Blake Ferguson has one-time Panthers prodigy Bryce Cartwright feeling the love at a Parramatta club he grew up hating.
Cartwright s third outing in blue and gold, albeit against a hapless Broncos outfit, was his best NRL game in years as he bagged a try, helped set up two more and finished with 129 running metres off the Eels bench.
Now 26, Cartwright copped an estimated $350,000 pay cut from his last Titans deal to take up this Parramatta lifeline with no other NRL option in the water.
Isaah Yeo says the form of pint-sized powerhouse Brian To o is becoming impossible to ignore for NSW selectors while backing Penrith s depth to overcome what is set to be a testing rep period.
Last year s Ampol State of Origin series was held after the NRL season due to the COVID restructure but the 2021 series is looming as a testing time for a Panthers side unaccustomed to losing a host of their best players mid-season.
Cleary and Yeo are certain to be involved with To o, Jarome Luai and Stephen Crichton also laying strong claims for Blues selection while Kurt Capewell is likely to again be in the Maroons squad.
Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers great)
Ryan Papenhuyzen. It will most likely be in the No.14 jersey, but he has shown he has everything you need to be a dangerous option in the last 15 minutes of each half. Give him half a chance and he is gone.
Even though Harry Grant seems to have the inside running for the Queensland No.9 jersey,
Reed Mahoney has been a standout performer in the opening weeks. He has been offering crisp service, running the ball when needed and his kicking game has improved substantially. His defensive skills have never been in question.
Zac Lomax. The Dragons star is quickly proving to be one of the best centres in the game and is surely closing in on rep honours after being in last year’s extended Blues squad. Can also play fullback or wing and a good goal kicker.
Gallen v Browne: Press Conference
Sport by Jamie Pandaram
Premium Content
Subscriber only Paul Gallen s verbal barrage against heavyweight rival Lucas Browne hit nasty new heights on Monday when he declared the former champion a quitter , a softc-k and a p -y . Browne vowed to leave the former NRL star unconscious when they clash in the ring on Wednesday night in Wollongong, but Gallen is supremely confident of producing one of the biggest upsets in Australian boxing history. When I beat him, it ends him, Gallen said. He s not going to handle the pace I m going at. I m not scared of him. There s a big difference between having respect for someone s power and being scared, and I m not scared of him.