Running out in his 100th NRL game is something Isaah Yeo will one day look back on fondly but for now the Dubbo product is fully focused on getting his Penrith Panthers side back to its best.
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Yeo reached the milestone on Friday night but the occasion was ruined for him by a rampant Brisbane Broncos outfit, the score finishing 50-18 at Suncorp Stadium.
Despite the disappointment of the defeat, Yeo told the Daily Liberal the experience and the pre-match jersey presentation from Penrith general manager Phil Gould was special.
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“Obviously you’d love to celebrate every milestone with a really good win but that wasn’t the case,” he said.
“To have him (Gould) to present it was special and like I said at the time, if you’d told me when I first came down here at the back-end of 2012 that I’d play 100 NRL games I’d say you’re crazy.
“It’s all happened pretty fast and it feels like you could click your fingers and it was my debut but I’m definitely not taking anything for granted.
“I’m loving it here and it’s something I’ll reflect on better at the end of the year and probably at the end of my career but now it’s just another game.”
The milestone was the latest accolade in what has been a stellar season for the St John’s junior.
While his side’s form has dipped in recent times, Yeo has been a key figure for a side which has been firmly entrenched in the top eight all season.
As well as that, the tough back-rower was also given the honour of captaining the club during the Origin-enforced absence of James Maloney.
“That caught me a little off guard and it’s one of the prouder moments of my career so far,” he said of the captaincy.
“I was fortunate to cap that week off with a win over the Warriors, too.
“I probably didn’t understand the extent of what it meant until my Dad told me there’s not many players who get to captain NRL sides. That really helped me understand how big a moment that was for me and my family.”
As is always the case for any of Yeo’s achievement there has been a flood of messages of support from his hometown in recent weeks.
There has also been a lot of love from Mudgee, where the one-time NSW Country representative’s family now lives.
“Coming from a community like Dubbo it feels like everyone gave you a helping hand and that was definitely the case,” he said.
“I’ve had a lot of support from Dubbo and Mudgee and I do see myself back in the country one day because that’s where home is and I love getting back there, I don’t get to do it enough.”
That doesn’t mean he plans on seeing out his playing days in bush footy though, 23-year-old Yeo laughed when stating he’ll be giving his all in the NRL for some time yet before seeing how his body is once the playing days are over.
Any plans on living back in the bush aren’t being given much thought now, with the focus firmly on getting the Panthers back in the winners’ circle.
After sitting at the top of the ladder as recently as round 13, the Panthers now find themselves in sixth spot on the ladder.
The heavy loss to the Broncos was the side’s fourth in the past five games.
Yeo and his men travel to Manly this weekend and the Dubbo product said if his side is turn its form around it’s all going to come from the work done on the training paddock.
“We’ve all come through the grades together and the feeling is still high,” Yeo said.
“We’re still fifth or sixth on the ladder so there’s no need to be kicking stones. We’ve put ourselves in a terrific position.
“You’ve got to put your best foot forward at training and be a bit harder on yourself and each other but there’s a really good foundation and I think it will turn.”
Nick Guthrie
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
I started working at the Daily Liberal in 2013 and now hold the position of senior journalist. I cover all that's happening in sport in Dubbo and the wider western area and have a passion for doing so. If you've got a story that needs telling, reach out.
