Cherrington relishing new NRL start Anthony Cherrington is only 24, but by the time Penrith open their season against Canberra, it will have been three years, seven months and 19 days since he last played in the NRL. That was with the Sydney Roosters against the Warriors in 2009, a Warriors team that was coached by now Panthers coach Ivan Cleary - who has thrown Cherrington an NRL lifeline. Three successive knee reconstructions - two to his left and one to his right - have stalled a career which had stardom written all over it when he burst onto the scene as a barnstorming back-rower in 2008. He showed enough to earn a new three-year deal with the Roosters midway through 2009, despite injury and trouble with the law already threatening to derail his career. But with a plethora of backrow options following the signing of Sonny Bill Williams and Luke O'Donnell, the Roosters offloaded Cherrington to the Panthers ahead of the 2013 season - offering a new start for the former Junior Kiwi. "It's a fresh start, it's a new environment for me," Cherrington told AAP of his move to the Panthers. I grew up in the east, the west is all new to me. The travelling out here, you could almost say I feel like a rookie. While a spot in Cleary's final 17 for the round one visit of the Raiders to Centrebet Stadium would be a "dream," Cherrington knows he may have to bide his time in the NSW Cup. At the moment, just playing footy, any footy, is an accomplishment. "Playing a full season - staying injury free is my No.1 concern," Cherrington said. I'm pretty confident now that if I stay on top of my rehab, it will all fall into place. It's (the knees) never going to be better, it's always going to be sore - it all depends on the rehab and how you treat the injury. And what about playing against the Raiders? "I know what I have to offer, he (Cleary) knows what I can bring and it's all about staying on the park and playing football," Cherrington said. It would be a dream, I'd love to play round one. But it's a new environment, I don't expect to come straight in and get a spot.