Blaize Talagi could be set for an NRL recall after Panthers five-eighth Jack Cogger was offered a three-match ban by the match review committee that would rule him out of the opening week of the finals series.
Cogger has emerged as Penrith’s first choice option at five-eighth, but he faces a lengthy stint on the sidelines after he was hit with a grade 2 careless high tackle charge for a shot on Melbourne’s Tyran Wishart.
The experienced playmaker rushed out of the line and knew he was in trouble, with referee Grant Atkins sending him straight to the sin bin midway through the second half.
The Panthers can seek a downgrade but would risk a four-match ban if they fight the charge and lose at the judiciary on Tuesday night, with Cogger also banned for two games earlier in the year for a high tackle on Ashton Ward.
Cogger is also facing a $3000 fine for a grade 1e dangerous contact charge, while Melbourne’s Josh King can accept a $1000 fine with an early guilty plea.
Cogger was instrumental off the bench for Penrith in the 2023 grand final and has made the No.6 jersey his own after Talagi was dropped after round 21 due to his defence.
Talagi is an option to replace him in the halves for next week’s game against the Bulldogs, but there are no guarantees that he’ll play given Jack Cole started in round 23 when Cogger was a late withdrawal.
Cole is the safer option to partner Nathan Cleary, but Talagi is the X-factor who can provide points on the left edge.
It’s a huge call for the coaching staff with Penrith fighting for the minor premiership but also a chance of slipping out of the top two if they trip up in the coming weeks.
Originally published as Blaize Talagi could earn finals reprieve after MRC hits Jack Cogger with monster ban for ugly high shot