‘I won’t try to be Jarome’: Cogger ready to step in as Panthers sweat on Luai’s scan results

Jack Cogger says he won’t try to be Jarome Luai as the Panthers sweat on scans this morning to determine the extent of the five-eighth’s injury after he dislocated his shoulder in Thursday’s loss to Parramatta just a fortnight out from the finals.

Luai came off midway through the first half when his left arm got trapped under Bryce Cartwright who prevented him from scoring a try.

Penrith’s medical team popped his shoulder back into place but there’s every chance he could miss anywhere from 3-6 weeks with a positive diagnosis, while his season is over if the scans show significant damage.

It’s a potentially major blow for the two-time defending premiers who could surrender top spot on the ladder by the end of the round if the Broncos beat Canberra.

“We’re just going to have to wait until he gets scans tomorrow,” Panthers coach Ivan Cleary said, conceding his representative playmaker could miss the finals.

“It’s obviously a decent injury, but they were fairly positive about the potential (of some good news), but we’re not going to know until he gets scans.

“That’s the way it goes sometimes. There are often a lot of injuries at this time of the year in and around the finals, but we just have to wait for the results.

“Whatever happens, we’ll come up with a plan from there.”

Cogger will replace Luai in the halves going forward, with the journeyman looking solid in limited opportunities this season in his first year with the club following stints with Newcastle and Canterbury, as well as time in England.

The 26-year-old has played nine games this season having filled in at halfback while Nathan Cleary was injured, while he’s had to play five-eighth and hooker in recent weeks before he returns to the Knights next season.

Cogger doesn’t have the same flair that makes Luai one of the best five-eighths in the competition, but he has his own set of skills that could help the Panthers win a third-straight title.

Camera IconJack Cogger has done a good job when he’s filled in this season. Picture; NRL Photos Credit: Supplied

“I won’t try to be Jarome because he’s a pretty unique player,” Cogger said after the 32-18 loss where he switched from hooker to the halves.

“It will probably change a bit because I won’t take that full game management role, but I think Nathan and I have a pretty good relationship and we can come up with a way that will benefit both of us and the team going forward.

“It’s shattering when you see a teammate go off with what could be a serious injury. Knowing Romey, he’s tough so he’ll bounce back but it’s never good to see your teammates leave the field.

“But I’ve done the work and this is what I was brought here to do in case one of the boys went down or over the Origin period where they needed someone to step in so the team wouldn’t lose any momentum.

“If that is the case then I’m confident that I can do the job.

“I knew what my job was when I came at the start of the year.

“I could have played one game or I could have played the whole year depending on what happened.

“The way the year has played out means I’ve played a couple of games when Nathan has been out or when Romey has been out, so I’ll just be ready no matter what going until the end of the year.”

The Panthers should get Sunia Turuva and Dylan Edwards back next week, but all eyes will be on how Cogger combines with Cleary given he and Luai know each other’s games inside out.

“I’m confident and I have faith in it,” the champion halfback said of their combination.

“Cogs has played enough first grade in his career to know what he has to do, and he’s got a cool head on his shoulders so we can keep developing that.

“I’m hoping Romey is all right, but I’m pretty confident and I’ve got a lot of faith that Cogs and I can get the job done.

“It sucks (that Luai got injured). You don’t want to see someone get injured ever, let alone one of your good mates who is such an important cog in our team.

“That’s the game we play, and these things happen.

“I’m hoping we get a good result for him, but if not, we just have to keep pushing forward.”