Back in his happy place after struggling to gel at Newcastle, Jack Cogger is avoiding temptation to throw the gauntlet down to axed teammate Blaize Talagi.
Penrith reaped immediate rewards from replacing young five-eighth Talagi with journeyman Cogger for last week's 42-18 thrashing of Canberra.
Cogger was involved in three of the ladder-leaders' tries and retains the No.6 jersey for a blockbuster away trip to face the third-placed Warriors on Friday.
Against Canberra, Cogger struck great chemistry with halfback Nathan Cleary, just as he did during Penrith's comeback to win the 2023 grand final.
The presence of chatty Cogger also reinvigorated a porous left edge that had conceded four of Penrith's six tries across an unconvincing previous fortnight.
Only one Canberra try came down that side with Cogger running the show.
"He sees the game well. The chat out there is similar to the way he plays: Simple but effective," left second-rower Isaiah Papali'i told AAP.
Last week's win was Cogger's best performance since returning from a two-year stint with the Knights, where things did not click as the playmaker had hoped.
That was not for lack of opportunities - Cogger played 38 games in two seasons - nor clashing with teammates.
"I got on with the people up there really well but just for whatever reason, some environments don't suit you ... that's kind of any job, any workplace," Cogger told AAP.
"There's so many guys up there that have played well in that environment, that suits them, but for whatever reason it didn't suit me.
"I think it worked out best for all parties that I was back here ... Wouldn't you join the best workplace?
"You guys see the scorelines and things like that on the field and the ladder position, but you get to join a place where you know you're really happy."
Cogger had mostly been used as a bench hooker, lightweight middle, or starting halfback during the State of Origin period since returning to Penrith.
But coach Ivan Cleary now appears in for a selection headache on the run to finals following Cogger's great first hit-out in the five-eighth jersey this season.
Tied to the club through 2028, Cogger is unfazed whether he keeps Talagi out of the premiership favourites' starting team for the remainder of the year.
"My motto for this year was, 'Any time, any place, anywhere just be ready'," Cogger said.
"At the moment, that's to play six, and if that's to play six for the rest of the season, then I'll make sure I put my best foot forward ... If that goes in a different direction in the next couple of weeks, then that's what will be.
"I'll do my best in whatever position that is. I think what got me the opportunity to play six was having that kind of mindset, so there's no point changing it now."
