If you needed an example of the Penrith Panthers’ recent success across multiple NSWRL competitions, then Jack Cole fits the bill.
The NRL rookie Panther is another success story from the Greater West, following in the footsteps of players like Dubbo’s Isaah Yeo and Matt Burton, or Forbes ‘Ferrari’ Charlie Staines. Cole is an Orange CYMS junior who had a successful SLE Laurie Daley Cup campaign with the Western Rams in 2020, before joining Penrith’s SG Ball Cup side the following year.
Fast forward to 2022 when he was named Jersey Flegg Cup (Under 21s) Player of the Year and had a personal goal to play only one game in The Knock-On Effect NSW Cup. He ended up making 12 appearances – starting in 11 – on the way to a premiership win.
Cole went on to score eight tries – one in the Grand Final victory – and set up nine, had 16 tackle busts and averaged 19.3 tackles.
During that time, he also played off the interchange bench for the NSW Under 19s in their 32-4 State of Origin win and made his NRL debut in the final round of the regular season against the North Queensland Cowboys.
But it was Cole’s utility value which might have surprised the half after he featured at centre in the NSW Cup line-up for two wins over the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, including the all-important decider.
In a season which saw Penrith crowned champions from four of a possible five grades, the 19-year-old’s development was fast-tracked after he played a key role in both the Jersey Flegg Cup and NSW Cup Premiership-winning squads.
Going into 2023 with the departures Isaiya Katoa, Sean O’Sullivan, Robert Jennings and the like, Cole should have many more opportunities coming his way in the season ahead.
