Few could copy Penny try, says Cullen

2:55am Friday 16th May 2008

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PAUL Cullen reckons few players across the world could have imitated Kevin Penny's try of the season contender at St Helens on Saturday and says the young winger will deal with his difficult end to the match.

Aided by excellent work from Michael Monaghan and Chris Hicks, Penny's blistering 80-metre effort may be Wolves' best for many years.

But the 20-year-old later lost possession near his own try line as Saints crossed for a key try.

He was then mercilessly ridiculed by the home crowd but Cullen said: "Kevin can take that.

"He has continued to progress in his offensive work and we looked a little bit tighter with the way Matt King and Louis Anderson defended on the inside of him.

"But he still has work to do with reference to collision. It's no secret there is development yet to come.

"That was an exceptional piece of skill (for the try). There are probably only one or two players in the world of rugby league who can score a try like that and we have to protect and preserve with talent that we have brought to the club from a schoolboy age."

Cullen dropped Penny after a loss of form earlier in the year but has been impressed by the attitude of the winger, who has scored five tries in his last four games.

And the Wolves boss added: "It wasn't that long ago that Ade Gardner was in a very similar situation at St Helens. He has now matured into an international athlete and hopefully Kevin Penny will follow suit."