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Dan Carter mentoring NRL champions ahead of Super League clash
The Penrith Panthers yet again emerged as the premier team in the National Rugby League in 2022 and look to extend their dominance in 2023, bringing in rugby union legend Dan Carter to help prepare for the upcoming season.
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The 2023 season kicks off in under two weeks and the Panthers are chasing their third straight championship, having their sights set on the “dynasty” tag as their talented core continues to grow together.
Central to that core is scrum-half Nathan Cleary, the playmaker who led both his club and country to gold medals last year with the Kangaroos claiming the Rugby League World Cup.
Winning has become a habit for the 25-year-old Cleary, but there was still plenty of wisdom to absorb when a hero of his, Dan Carter, came into Panthers camp this week.
“It was a massive fanboy moment for me, I was frothing, it was pretty cool,” Cleary told 9 News.
“A lot of the stuff was just about mental, he gave me a few tips around that and just the way he speaks about that so fluently — it’s very impressive.
“He obviously put a lot of work into the mental side of things and in saying that, I’ll definitely look to undertake (that) as I get older. I know it’s very important so it was good to bounce ideas off him.”
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The All Blacks enjoyed a historic winning period under Carter’s leadership, the former World Cup-winning No 10 has renowned mental skillset attributes and plenty of experience to offer the next generation of superstars, regardless of code.
Cleary and his Penrith side are gearing up for a unique challenge, facing Super League champions St Helens in the first World Club Challenge since 2020 due to Covid. St Helens have dominated the last four Super League seasons and dispatched the Dragons while competing in the NRL’s preseason challenge.
In that 2020 World Club Challenge match, St Helens came up short against the Roosters and are well aware of the challenge ahead of them when they face the best club side down under on Saturday.
Former NRL star Curtis Sironen lines up in the second row for St Helens in the clash and labelled the Penrith side “the benchmark of the rugby league world.
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“They’ve dominated for the last three years,” Sironen told media.
“Playing them in 2020 and 2021, I got to know how good they were and how young they were. I’ve been watching them very closely… They’re just an outstanding club.
“When the Roosters went back-to-back, I didn’t think we’d see it again for a while but they’ve just gone bang. They’ve got this squad that’s getting better and better every year.”
Comments on RugbyPass
100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
8 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
12 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
8 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
8 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
12 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
12 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
8 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
12 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
12 Go to commentsI don’t think anyone knows what Schmidt will do, one thing is certain it ain’t gonna be all the picks we on the keyboard will think. My impression of him is that he will be looking at who can step up and what is the best combination. He will ignore individuals as he looks for guys who can build a powerful team and not just guys who can make a flashy run or ignore the winger as they want to score themselves.
7 Go to commentsSome dumb selections there. Not Porecki Not Donaldson Not Gordon Not Lonegran - both Not Nic White - Fines instead Not Liam Wright Not Paisami Definitely not Vunivalu Other than that not bad.
7 Go to commentsI've never been convinced that Patty T is a test match all black. Otherwise I probably agree it's the best side available to beat the poms. Caveat that Codie Taylor is yet to be seen and could very likely warrant selection by June. I hope that Razor brings the young loosies, half backs and locks into the training squad and develops/ selects the best
12 Go to comments