Jarome Luai has suggested Blaize Talagi's arrival at Penrith could be the making of Jack Cole, as the duo prepare for a shootout over the soon-to-be vacant No.6 jersey.
Luai's exit to Wests Tigers next year will leave Penrith with one of the biggest challenges to their dynasty, with no clear answer on who will partner Nathan Cleary in the halves.
It was long expected that Cole would succeed Luai at five-eighth, having played in the World Club Challenge and eight other NRL games this year.
But Talagi will arrive from Parramatta as a teenage prodigy and with a desire to be a playmaker.
Luai said he was unsure who would take over his jersey next season, but believed any battle for the No.6 would benefit the club.
He himself faced stiff opposition from Matt Burton for the five-eighth job in early 2020, before winning out and helping the Panthers to the past three premierships.
"Competition is healthy, it's good for a team," Luai said.
"I had to go through that with Matt Burton back in the day. That brought the best out of both of us.
"(Blaize) is a mad talent, obviously really young but he's got a bright future ahead of him.
"If (Penrith were to go) with Coley, it would definitely be comfortable out there with his ability and what he brings to them."
More immediate for both Luai and Penrith is the challenge of meeting ladder leaders Melbourne on Thursday night.
The Panthers are well aware only a win will keep them in the hunt for the minor premiership, drawing them level with the Storm.
A loss would leave the Panthers at risk of falling out of the top two, and in turn giving away a home-ground advantage in the first week of the finals.
Melbourne beat Penrith 8-0 earlier this year, but the Panthers have won five of the past seven clashes between the two teams since the 2021 finals series.
Together the two teams have been the best of this decade, but Luai said three-time premiers Penrith still looked at the Storm as a benchmark.
"They've been the benchmark for a lot longer than five years for us," he said.
"We always look forward to trying to chase them and what they've done in the game for the past decade."
Regardless of the result on Thursday night, Luai said there was no advantage to be taken into next month's finals series.
"It means very little. Whoever is the best team in that 80-minute period," Luai said.
"The minor premiership shows the consistency of the season. It does mean something to me. How consistent you are, and what you've done across the board.
"But come finals time it doesn't mean anything."
Penrith are expected to have Dylan Edwards and James Fisher-Harris back for the match, going some way to making up for the losses of Liam Martin (suspension) and Scott Sorensen (hamstring).
