Panthers bench utility Jack Cogger has become the ultimate ‘Mr Fix It’ at Penrith as the club chases an unprecedented NRL premiership three-peat in Sunday’s grand final against the Broncos.
Cogger has become an important member of the Panthers squad, providing valuable cover in the halves and adding spark off the bench during the season.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: The inspiration behind Penrith’s ‘Mr fix it’.
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Cogger is from a famous football family, with his dad Trevor a former rugby league star with the Western Suburbs Magpies during the 1980s and 1990s.
The 26-year-old filled in for Panthers halves Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai during the State of Origin period. However, his biggest moment came when he replaced the injured Luai during Penrith’s qualifying final win against the Warriors.
Cogger also featured during the Panthers’ preliminary final win over the Storm when he came off the bench, a situation which left him feeling nervous.
“It’s just kind of been my role, whether it’s just been on the bench and waiting during the game to get a call up, or just watching during the year and knowing if someone gets injured I’d probably have to be ready,” Cogger exclusively told 7NEWS chief rugby league reporter Michelle Bishop regarding his role with the Panthers.
“The club is really good at not only working on the physical side of the game, but being prepared mentally and how you go about being under pressure and how you are going to react to that and how you are going to perform under pressure.
“That’s one thing that has helped me getting called up halfway during a game or for a period of six weeks over Origin.
“It’s hard sometimes, I was pretty nervous sitting on the sidelines during the prelim, but I just had to be ready at any second.”
Cogger is playing in his first finals campaign and joined the Panthers this season after stints with the Knights (2016-18), Bulldogs (2019-20) and Huddersfield (2021-22) in England.
Trevor played 157 first grade games with the Magpies. However, Jack still holds the family record for finals games.
“I think I’ve got him for finals appearances, but he’d have to confirm that,” Jack laughed as Trevor replied: “Yep, I’ve only played one.”
The younger Cogger is inspired by his father and admitted to being a huge rugby league fan.
“I’ve watched a lot of old tapes of Dad, I’m a bit of a footy tragic,” Jack said.
Trevor, meanwhile, joked and admitted he watches the old tapes “when nobody is around.”
Cogger was thrust into a starting role when Luai went down with a shoulder injury just before the finals and was tasked with a simple objective.
“The message to me was pretty simple, just keeping winning,” Cogger said.
Trevor said he was proud of his son and urged him to make the most of being in a grand final before he departs the Panthers to head back to the Knights next season.
“He just kept plugging away and plugging away,” Trevor said about Jack’s determination.
“The luck comes into play again and we are playing a grand final.”
“You may not get another opportunity at this level, so make the most of it.”
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