RUGBY LEAGUE
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Despite drawing a difficult pool for next weekend's Auckland Nines, Dubbo's Isaah Yeo believes his side could be one to surprise a few people at the fast-paced tournament.
The Panthers are battling a number of injuries to key players, meaning the Nines squad is predominately made up of exciting youngsters with little or no first grade experience.
Yeo, with 10 NRL appearances to his name, is one of the few who have experienced the top flight and after recovering from ankle surgery he can't wait to run out on the field again.
"The pre-season has been good, the ankle is all recovered and we've named a young squad for the Nines so I'll get the chance to play with a few of my mates so I'm excited," he said.
"We've got a few injuries so that gives the young blokes an opportunity and the Nines is a good chance to put your hand up."
Yeo is one of only four Penrith players in the 2015 squad who appeared at last year's inaugural Nines, with the likes of Jamie Soward, Peter Wallace, Bryce Cartwright, Tyrone Peachey, Elijah Taylor and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak all either injured or recovering from off-season surgery.
On top of that, Australian representatives Matt Moylan and Josh Mansour are out after their Four Nations commitment during the off-season but Yeo said all the big-name absences made it a great chance for some of the club's younger players to impress.
"We've got a Wyong trial next after the Nines and then a trip to New Zealand and then a trial against Parramatta so you want to play as many games as you can to really help put your case forward," he said.
While the Nines is at the forefront of everyone's mind at the moment, the 20-year-old also spoke about his hopes for 2015.
He expects his versatility to again help his push for more first grade matches and said Ivan Cleary and the coaching staff have had him working in a number of positions during the off-season.
"I've been training in all different positions, in the centres, back row and at lock. Wherever you get to play in first grade is a bonus so you just try and help out with the little things and show some versatility," he said.
"That's probably the positive, Ivan and the coaches are putting me there in the different positions so I'm hoping for a bit of a versatile spot, you'd play anywhere you can in first grade so the more first grade games I get the better.
"I just want to try and get my form up to standard and push for first grade. I just want to keep on improving because I know there's a few in front of me."
The 20-year-old spent the first five weeks of the off-seas at home as he recovered but also got the chance to return to Dubbo over Christmas, something he savoured.
"We had the Yeo family Christmas this year so it was a bit full-on but it was unreal to be back home with friends and family because you don't get that much during the season," he said.
Penrith are pooled with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, Melbourne Storm and defending Nines champions the North Queensland Cowboys.