James Segeyaro admits a fear of losing his place to NRL premiership-winning hooker Api Koroisau is inspiring him to reach new heights for Penrith.
The Papua New Guinea-born 24-year-old enjoyed the best season of his career in 2014, winning the Dally M hooker of the year, and showed evidence he's on course to retain that honour with a blistering round-one display against Canterbury last Sunday.
On a swelteringly hot day in western Sydney, Segeyaro clocked up more than 120 metres with the ball, made five offloads, 29 tackles and scored a try as the Panthers ran out 24-18 winners.
Koroisau left South Sydney at the end of last season to join the Panthers in a bid to earn more game time having played second fiddle to Issac Luke.
Luke's suspension for the grand final saw the young Fijiian international win a premiership ring and Segeyaro said his arrival at the foot of the Blue Mountains has put him under pressure to keep his standards high.
"Api is a premiership-winning hooker and it's always good to have a bit of competition biting at your heels," Segeyaro told AAP.
"It certainly makes you play better knowing he's ready to step in.
Since arriving at Penrith from North Queensland in 2013, Segeyaro has been transformed from game-changing bench player to an 80-minute all-rounder who is electric in attack and rugged in defence.
Panthers coach Ivan Cleary admits he signed Korisau to potentially play hooker off the bench but said the form of Segeyaro is making it difficult to find a point in the game to take him out of the action.
"It was a thought [playing Koroisau off the bench], particularly early in the season when it's a long 80 minutes," Cleary said.
"The fact is James wanted to play 80 minutes and I thought he could do it.
"We have Lewis Brown there if he needs a break. It's a long season so I'm pretty happy to have both of those boys."
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