scott sorensen is demanding that Mitch Kenny be selected in the NSW Blues team this year, arguing the 28-year-old dummy half has earned representative honours despite a suspension that rules him out of Friday’s blockbuster at CommBank Stadium.
What happens to the Panthers this Friday?
Sorensen warned the club will miss Kenny dearly in the Good Friday clash against Melbourne. Kenny, described by Sorensen as an “absolute warrior, ” was suspended following a hip-drop tackle on Eels fullback Isaiah Iongi last weekend and will be unavailable for selection this Friday.
With Kenny absent, new recruit Freddy Lussick will start at hooker. Sorensen highlighted how Kenny’s leadership in training and on the park has lifted the squad and said his absence will be felt by teammates and in-game cohesion.
Who steps up in Mitch Kenny’s absence?
Freddy Lussick has been handed the starting hooker role. Sorensen praised Lussick’s pre-season and said he “grabbed the opportunity with both hands, ” noting the recruit has bought into the club culture and is pushing for a place in the team. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary praised Lussick’s work ethic at training on Monday, a point Sorensen said he agreed with.
Sorensen framed Lussick’s elevation as both a chance for the newcomer and a necessary cover for Kenny’s leadership at dummy half. He underlined that teammates know the confidence Kenny brings when he plays and that filling that gap will be a primary focus for the coaching staff and players this week.
Scott Sorensen: what’s next and who benefits?
After six seasons with the Panthers, Sorensen will depart the club at season’s end to join a new NRL franchise, the Perth Bears, on a two-year deal beginning in 2027. He described the move as an “incredible opportunity, ” noted his wife is from Western Australia, and called the decision both exciting and bittersweet. Sorensen said he is grateful for the chance and acknowledged his time at the Panthers as central to making the move possible.
Prop Liam Henry and former Panther Mav Geyer will join Sorensen in Perth. Sorensen framed the transfer as a next chapter for him and for those following him to the new club, while stressing his current focus remains on performing for the Panthers in the months ahead.
Forward-looking readers should understand the immediate on-field impact: Kenny’s suspension opens a short-term selection puzzle for the Panthers and provides Lussick with an opportunity to stake a claim. At the representative level, Sorensen’s public call for Mitch Kenny presses the case that the hooker’s form and leadership merit consideration for the Blues. Off the field, Sorensen’s confirmed move to the Perth Bears reshapes a handful of player pathways and adds a familiar spine to a new franchise. The balance between short-term disruption and longer-term opportunities will be watched closely as the season continues, and scott sorensen
