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How Penrith five-eighth beat pressure of replacing Luai
George Clarke, AAP • September 23rd, 2026 3:00 pm
Penrith playmaker Jack Cole says he now feels comfortable in the spotlight alongside Nathan Cleary | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
When Jarome Luai left Penrith with a fourth-straight premiership ring at the end of 2024, Jack Cole was the man tipped to be his long-term replacement.
But it's only now, as he prepares for Sunday's NRL preliminary final against Newcastle, that Cole feels comfortable dealing with the expectation of partnering Nathan Cleary.
"I probably put a bit too much pressure on myself, especially with 'Romey' (Luai) leaving. I tried to be a bit too much like him," the 23-year-old told AAP.
"I was reading into it a bit too much. 'Romey' is such a unique player and nobody is going to be like that.
"I've tried to be myself a bit more and focus on what I'm good at."
Jack Cole says he had to be himself rather than try to emulate four-time title winner Jarome Luai | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Cole began 2025 as the Panthers' first-choice No. 6 in the post-Luai era and featured in the club's round one win in Las Vegas.
But a concussion and an alarming drop in Penrith's form meant Cole found himself on the outer, losing his spot to Blaize Talagi.
With the pressure of Luai's legacy and Talagi at his heels, Cole would feel the weight of the world on his shoulders whenever he made an error.
"I've learned to let go of my mistakes a lot quicker, maybe a couple of years ago I'd carry it for 10 to 15 minutes and I'd be playing catch-up," Cole said.
"Over the past couple of years, I've come to realise that once errors happen, I can't change it, you can't do anything about it and you've got to move on."
Jack Cole (left) has timed his form run to the preliminary finals perfectly | Photo: Dean Lewins/AAP
This year, Cole has benefited from Talagi's struggles in defence and Jack Cogger's late-season suspension to claim the five-eighth jersey at the business end of the year.
The playmaker won't be at the Panthers in 2027, having agreed to sign with the Perth Bears ahead of their inaugural season.
But he has designs on leaving the club that picked him up as a teenager in Orange with a premiership ring.
"I feel like it's put me in good stead to move over there and try to be a leader and take what I've learned here over to Perth," Cole said.
"Getting the finals experience as well, that different intensity, I feel like it can help you for (regular season) games as well.
"It's going to be a cool opportunity, everyone's new and coming from all over the country so hopefully I can get the dub this year and then move over there and continue."
