Penrith Panthers general manager Phil Gould has described Dubbo’s Isaah Yeo as a representative player in waiting after the mountain men announced the St John’s product has re-signed with the club.
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The two-year extension on his current deal will extend Yeo’s stay at Penrith until the end of 2021, with Gould confident the towering backrower can, and will, develop into not only a rep star but a potential captain at the club.
"Isaah is an outstanding young man," Gould, NSW’s most successful State of Origin coach, said.
"He has come through the Panthers development system and now established himself as a mainstay in our NRL team.
"Isaah already displays tremendous leadership qualities and we are delighted he has committed his long-term future to our club.
"I have no doubts he will be a representative player in the years to come."
Yeo, a 195 centimetre giant, has proven one of the Panthers’ best forwards since debuting in the NRL in 2014.
He played 22 games last year and in a hugely competitive backrow at the Panthers – the club also has Tyrone Peachey, Bryce Cartwright, Trent Merrin and Corey Harawera-Naera vying for backrow positions – looks set to begin 2018 in Anthony Griffin’s starting side.
It’s a young core being developed at Penrith, and Yeo, 23, fits perfectly into that mould.
"I'm stoked with the situation and how it all panned out," Yeo said.
"The club has shown tremendous faith in me and I'm looking forward to trying to repay that faith on the field with my performances.
"I think the last two years have been successful, especially given the age of our playing group, and I'm very confident with where this team is heading.
"I'm really excited to be here. It's where I call home now."
Yeo tasted premiership success as he progressed through the grades at Panthers.
He was a member of the club's premiership-winning NYC side in 2013 and backed up with victory in the NSW Cup Grand Final in 2014.
Yeo made his NRL debut that same year and has gone on to play 82 games and score 11 tries for Panthers.