Kenny expresses gratitude to Koroisau ahead of meeting

Mitch Kenny is grateful to Apisai Koroisau for boosting his NRL career after the former Penrith man helped turn him from a reserve-grade lock to first-grade Panthers hooker.

Koroisau will come up against his old club for the first time on Saturday in Bathurst, desperate to help the Wests Tigers claim their first win of the season.

The incumbent NSW dummy-half remains close with several of his former teammates, after he played grand finals in all three years at the club and won the last two. 

But nobody is more appreciative than Kenny.

Pushed from lock to feeling like an out-of-position hooker in the year before Koroisau's arrival, Kenny spent three seasons learning his craft under the veteran rake before making the No.9 jersey his own this year.

"He pretty much guided my transition into playing No.9," Kenny said. 

"I played a bit in 2019, but I had never really been a hooker and the club needed me to play it at that time. 

"But then I did my apprenticeship under Api and just got to marvel at what he can do. 

"I tried to learn off him and he always had a lot of time for me, which was great. And we got to win a comp together last year which was pretty cool."

Kenny has never tried to emulate Koroisau in his style at Penrith.

Koroisau is known for his ability to dart out of dummy-half, put his team on the front foot and then play off to halves and forwards who have gone with him in attack.

Kenny, in contrast, has embraced the more physical style of hooker, starting the game at No.9 before shifting to the pack with Soni Luke on the field.

It was a role the Panthers also implemented during last year's finals while using Koroisau off the bench, but Kenny said there was still a lot to take from his time with the Blues rake.

"It hasn't been about trying to replicate what Api does, but more his understanding of the game and his game sense," Kenny said. 

"I can dream, but I just couldn't do some of the things he can do. 

"It's more just my understanding of what it was to play hooker. I took a lot of notes from Api and learnt a lot from him and try to apply it to my game."

Kenny said he knew Koroisau's door remained open for advice on his move to the Tigers.

"I've had some small conversations with Api about footy since he has left the club," Kenny said. 

"He is the kind of guy who would never turn his back on you if you had any questions or needed any advice. 

"He's a legend, doing that without compromising himself or his club. He is happy to help, it is just in his nature."