Penrith Panthers’ hookers Api Koroisau and Mitch Kenny discuss their shared role and succession plans for next season

“I enjoy it,” Koroisau tells CODE Sports. “I don’t have to get bashed for the first 20 minutes.”

In both of Penrith’s finals appearances this season, Ivan Cleary has opted to start Koroisau’s teammate Mitch Kenny at hooker. It is on the one hand a vote of confidence in the emergence of Kenny, but also a tactic designed to allow Koroisau to dominate against fatigued defenders.

“I don’t have a preference for doing either,” Koroisau says as he prepares for his final match for the Panthers before a move to the Wests Tigers next season. “Being able to sit down and watch the game and see how it unfolds in the first 20 minutes is definitely helpful.”

Against the Eels in the qualifying final, Kenny played the first 27 minutes.

Against South Sydney last weekend, he played the first 26.

Koroisau, who came on in the 20th minute, scored Penrith’s first try against the Rabbitohs with four minutes left in the first half.

A coaching masterstroke.

“I knew why I was starting was to take on the physical challenge of the first 20 minutes,” Kenny tells CODE Sports. “I like getting stuck in so that was where my head was at. Just frontload my first 20 minutes, put all my energy and intensity into that and get stuck into the physical battle and help set a defensive rhythm for the side.”

Kenny stands just 11 centimetres taller than the diminutive Koroisau at 1.83m. Yet he has worked on building out his frame to become a defensive asset.

“It’s not like I’m a big body or an enforcer or anything like that, it’s not physicality in terms of going out there and bruising blokes,” Kenny says. “But I try to hold my gloves up and work hard in defence.

“It’s probably more around fitness and hard work. I try and get physical when I can but I’m giving a bit of weight and height to most of these blokes so they’ll probably get the best of me each tackle.”

When Kenny leaves the field after his first stint on Sunday night, he will assess his performance based on two areas: how tidy was Penrith’s defence through the middle; how quickly did they stop Parramatta’s pack.

“It’s hard to break teams down in the first 20 minutes,” Kenny admits. “But if I can feel that we’re getting some of the ascendancy because we’re winning in defence, then we’re starting to win the field position battle and able to get out of trouble well in attack.”

Kenny advanced through the Penrith junior system as a lock before joining the squad in 2019. He felt his size was an issue if he was to play as a middle forward in first grade, which is why Koroisau took him under his wing and started teaching him his craft.

“To see his development, coming from a lock, into first grade and just how hard he works and the energy he put in to become a better dummy-half,” Koroisau says. “He‘s one of those guys that you just need in your team. High energy, great bloke and just works his butt off for you.”

Kenny credits Koroisau with much of his success. His 23 games this season is the most in his career to date and his confidence levels are soaring entering the decider. But he knows he must evolve further if he is to replace Koroisau in the No. 9 jumper from next season.

“You can never be like him and no one can,” Kenny says. “But you can look at what he’s trying to do and he’s going to do it in his own style and you can try and learn from him.

“Sometimes you do have to sit back and shake your head at some of the things he can do at training. He’s ridiculous. But he’s such an open book. He’s so willing to share and teach and he’ll leave a big hole here and he will leave a bit of a legacy here at this club.”

Koroisau believes Kenny is ready to take the next step.

“He’s put the work in and he deserves it,” Koroisau says. “I’m looking forward to taking his head off next year!”

But first, the pair have a grand final to win together.

The moment will be particularly sweet for Kenny. He played in the 2020 preliminary final before being cut from the extended grand final squad. He then suffered an ankle injury against Parramatta in last year’s semi-final and missed the rest of Penrith’s run to the premiership.

“It would mean a lot for myself but probably more so for my family,” Kenny says. “They’ll ride the highs and lows of it. I won’t think too deeply about it. I’m just trying to perform and do my job and then I’ll let the realisation hit that I just played in an NRL grand final.

“If you asked me a few years ago whether I would have thought I would play in an NRL grand final, I would have laughed in your face. But, yeah, it’s pretty cool.”