Matt Burton has been urged to order his vastly experienced teammates around on Sunday when he lines up in what has been described as an audition to be Nathan Cleary's full time halves partner.
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The St John's junior will make hus his second appearance in the NRL on Sunday against the Newcastle Knights and he will form an inexperienced halves combination with Jarome Luai.
With regular halfback and NSW number seven Nathan Cleary suspended the Panthers will be lacking the general who drives the side around.
But Burton has been backed to take on the role by Penrith's international prop forward, James Tamou.
Cleary has still been a regular at Panthers training and has been pushing Burton to really take control, according to Tamou.
"In regards to Burto, he's telling Burto to be a bit more boisterous and demand what he wants so he can get the best out of himself and us as forwards, too," Tamou told reporters on Wednesday.
"For a young guy coming in it can be a bit tough but we tell him 'tell us where you want us, yell at us, and we'll do whatever you need to be at your best' and I guess it will come with time and experience but it's the one thing Nath is trying to help him out with."
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As many in the western area could attest to, Burton is't the most loud youngster.
But Tamou said the 20-year-old has an ability to flick the switch and take over when that whistle blows.
"He's pretty ladi-back by nature so you don't get too much out of him but ... he switches it on when he can," Tamou added.
"A very skillful player and he's got a massive boot on him and that will be helpful against a bigger pack."
The Panthers won each of their first two games of the season before the lockdown, as did the Knights.
Cleary played a key role in that success, proving he had made a step up after losing former five-eighth James Maloney to the Super League.
Luai started both of those matches at five-eighth but he shifts to the number seven jersey on Sunday while Burton, like he was when he made his debut last year, will be in the number six.
And, according to one former NRL great, a strong performance from Burton these next two weeks could see him stay there and become Cleary's new halves partner.
Former premiership winner and Australian representative Brett Kimmorley was speaking to NRL.com this week and had plenty of praise for the former Western Rams gun.
"He made his debut last year and was great. Had a big upset victory against the Sharks, left-foot kicking game and obviously Jarome Luai is also a runner," Kimmorley said.
"It is an audition, I think, and Nathan Cleary will come back and he'll run the team, play the open half, and has a right-foot kicking game.
"But he does have to sit out for two weeks so it will be a tough two weeks for Penrith."
The Panthers meet the Warriors after taking on the Knights.
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Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
