Cleary backs O'Sullivan for Penrith opener

Penrith coach Ivan Cleary says he doesn't need Sean O'Sullivan to be a carbon copy of his son Nathan as the Panthers open their NRL premiership defence at home to Manly on Thursday.

Panthers halfback Nathan has been ruled out for the first three weeks of the season as he recovers from shoulder surgery.

O'Sullivan, who signed from the Warriors over the off-season, will partner five-eighth Jarome Luai in the halves.

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The inclusion of O'Sullivan, who has 21 NRL games under his belt, is one of five changes from the team that won last year's grand final.

"He has to (step up)," Ivan said of Luai.

"We've got Sean and Kurt Falls in our squad who have been training to take over from Nathan when required.

"That will allow Jarome to play his natural game which we feel is important for our team.

"We don't expect Sean to be anyone else.

"He's been one of our best trainers since he got here and he's had a lot of reps in that spot and I'm confident he can deliver what he needs to."

Cleary confirmed centre Stephen Crichton will kick goals and said his son would have been underdone if he had been risked.

"He wasn't ready," Ivan said.

"It's potentially a conservative approach but he finished last season clearly playing under duress so we thought it was important that this year he started at 100 per cent."

There are no concerns over the state of the playing surface at Panthers Stadium with Ivan describing it as "outstanding" despite heavy rain battering Sydney over the last week.

Penrith haven't lost to Manly since 2018 and if they are to continue that streak they will have to limit Sea Eagles fullback Tom Trbojevic, who beat Nathan to the Dally M award last season.

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