Country boy scores 4 in Panthers debut

Sydney: “He’s not the next James Tedesco – he’s the first Charlie Staines”.

So said one of the 19-year-old’s army of former Forbes Magpies teammates who had travelled from the central west town to watch Staines create NRL history by scoring four tries in his NRL debut for Penrith in their 56-24 thumping of Cronulla at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium.

Staines received a late call-up after Dean Whare succumbed to injury on Thursday. The rookie winger made the most of his opportunity by scoring in the 23rd, 44th, 73rd and 78th minutes, as well as setting up a try for Dylan Edwards.

In doing so he became the first player since Gold Coast’s Jordan Atkins in 2008 to score four tries on debut – a feat only six other players have achieved in the game’s 112year history in Australia.

However, the best thing for Staines was having his family and friends on hand to witness him playing for the Panthers after graduating through the Western Rams development squad with boom five-eighth Matt Burton.

“It’s unreal that they all travelled up from Forbes,” Staines said.