Te Maire Martin and Nathan Cleary are hyped as the next star halves combination of the NRL, but Penrith coach Anthony Griffin isn’t expecting immediate miracles.
After excelling individually in 2016, the youngsters will play together for the first time at NRL level in the Panthers’ season-opener against St George Illawarra on Saturday afternoon.
The pair have worked closely with Griffin and Panthers’ general manager Phil Gould in the off-season, but will face their first real test against a Dragons pack Griffin expects to target them.
“They’ll be under a lot of pressure no doubt from St George Illawarra,” Griffin said.
“They’re young and the only way they’re going to get experience is to play together, so there’s no magic solution.”
Martin played six games for Penrith last year, scoring a try and kicking the winning field goal on debut against Brisbane, before his NRL season ended prematurely with a shoulder injury.
The 21-year-old was later replaced by Cleary in the halves, who guided the side to within two weeks of the grand final.
And despite Cleary’s tender age of 19, Griffin has seen enough to know he won’t be shaken by the weight of expectation at UOW Jubilee Oval on Saturday, or throughout the season.
“They’re both level-headed kids,” Griffin said.
“You saw Nathan last year with his composure and that will be the main part of his game tomorrow, particularly if conditions are wet.”
The pair have also been working closely in video and on the field with Gould throughout the pre-season, as he has taken a more hands-on role at the club in recent years.
“To be able to work with a guy like that is a real advantage for everyone at the club,” Griffin said.
“He’s one of the greatest coaches in the game. He’s won Origin series for NSW … And he’s won grand finals.
“He is just a great mentor for everyone here.”
While the Panthers have shot to early favouritism for the first time in the NRL era, the Dragons attack has again been questioned.
But Griffin said he expected that to spark their rivals on Saturday.
“People don’t like criticism, particularly professional football players at a proud club like St George Illawarra,” he said.
“I wouldn’t expect anything less of them than to have a sting in their tail tomorrow about what’s happened.”
STATS THAT MATTER:
* Penrith have only scored above 20 once against the Dragons since 2004
* The Dragons scored just 341 points last year, the lowest season aggregate in the merged club’s history.
* Dragons winger Jason Nightingale requires only one try to move to fourth on the club’s all-time try-scoring list with 93.
Source: Fox Sports Stats
