Penrith young gun George Jennings still dreams of lining up alongside his brother and Sydney Roosters star Michael.
The Jennings brothers will come up against each other for the first time outside their parents' western Sydney backyard next Monday when Penrith receive a litmus test of their premiership credentials against the Roosters.
George has been one of the finds of the 2015 season for the Panthers, hitting the ground running in his first two NRL appearance.
He grew up idolising NSW and Australian centre Michael and said he had long dreamed of running onto the same ground as his older brother, only he imagined it would be side by side.
A spanner was put in the works in 2013 when Michael moved from the foot of the mountains to the eastern suburbs.
Both are off-contract at the end of 2016 and George said it was still a dream to play in the same side.
"I'd like to. But I'm not sure," he said.
"As a little kid I always wanted to play with him but whatever happens, I'm not too sure."
While reuniting the brothers remains a pipe dream, Penrith general manager Phil Gould tipped George to follow in his brother's footsteps and establish himself as a long-term NRL star.
Their younger brother Robert is currently playing NSW Cup with the Panthers and Gould said he would have no hesitation throwing him into the NRL as well.
"The younger one Robert is a lot like Michael, very evasive, very quick while George is a brute - he just runs over the top of you, he doesn't go around you, he's very physical," Gould said.
"They're all extremely talented. They're rugby league kids and this is the game they grew up playing.
"I think these two will be long-term NRL players as well ... They're very strong for young fellas. Robert's still just 19 and I think he could play NRL tomorrow."
George and Michael both play on the left edge for their sides meaning they won't be lining up opposite each other at Allianz Stadium next Monday. However George said he might rove onto the other side just to let his brother know he's out there.
With Panthers flyer Josh Mansour due back in the next two weeks, Jennings has a fight on his hands to hold his spot in the side, but said he was feeling comfortable playing at first grade level.
"I knew it would be fast but I could never really prepare for the way (his debut against Canterbury) turned out," he said.
"I never knew it would be that fast but as the minutes went past I felt more confident and it felt good."
Share
