Panthers youngster Blaize Talagi is ready to embrace finals physicality as he prepares for a showdown with Adam Reynolds and a rampaging Broncos pack.
The talented five-eighth surprised many with a series of big hits in last week's semi-final win over the Bulldogs. It's a performance he's looking to repeat in Sunday's preliminary final, with Talagi expecting the Broncos to send plenty of traffic his direction.
Reynolds is on track for his first game since suffering a hamstring injury in Round 23, setting the stage for a fascinating battle between old and new.
A match-winning double for Blaize Talagi
The veteran is a premiership winner who has thrived at every level. While his body is starting to slow down, the 35-year-old remains one of the best tacticians in the game and boasts an elite kicking game.
Talagi is the exciting youngster not afraid to take a backwards step. The 21-year-old has thrived in his first two finals games and is determined to claim another big scalp on Sunday afternoon.
"I remember watching Adam a lot as a young kid and he's always been that typical halfback with a good kicking game," Talagi said. "He's a good playmaker and is a dangerous player so we'll have to do our homework and be ready to go on game day.
"Through my junior footy I always had that defensive physicality. It's good to see it coming out a bit these last couple of weeks but I've still got a lot more to work on moving forward."
Match: Broncos v Panthers
Finals Week 3 -
home Team
Broncos
4th Position
away Team
Panthers
7th Position
Venue: Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Talagi arrived at Penrith last summer under plenty of pressure to replace four-time premiership-winning five-eighth Jarome Luai.
Off-season shoulder surgery hampered his preparation for the new year and the youngster endured a patchy start to the season.
Coach Ivan Cleary opted to send Talagi back to reserve grade to work on his game, with the move proving a masterstroke in the past few months.
The youngster has grown into his role and developed into a key member of Penrith's charge to a sixth-straight preliminary final.
Talagi was forced to defend Nathan Cleary and Liam Martin during opposed sessions while in NSW Cup and said it was the perfect preparation for a return to the NRL.
"It was hard watching the other boys go out there without me and having to do my time in Cup but it helped me so much," Talagi said.
"Training with reserve grade we faced the NRL side so going up against them was a good challenge. It helped me learn the system here.
"It was hard at the time but I didn't doubt I would get back here. I knew I'd get my opportunity and when I did, I was going to make sure I didn't let it go."
While signed to replace Luai, Talagi had the opportunity to learn first-hand from the star playmaker on Samoa's tour of England last year.
The youngster used the opportunity to absorb as much information as possible and hopes to reunite with the Tigers halfback for the upcoming Pacific Championships.
Samoa will play fierce rivals Tonga in a showdown at Suncorp Stadium on October 26, with more than 50,000 expected to pack into the venue.
What it means: Pacific Championships
Before then, Talagi is eager to win two more games with the Panthers and he'll be drawing on the international experience to help get him through a hostile atmosphere in Brisbane on Sunday afternoon.
"International games have the same massive build up as finals," Talagi said. "Playing for your country is not a small feat, but finals footy is also a different beast.
"There's so many great players in our game and it would be silly not to learn from them. To be able to learn off Romy is something I can't take for granted and was a great experience."
