Isaah Yeo "ticked another box" on Saturday night as he made a comeback from off-season surgery for the Penrith Panthers.
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St John's junior Yeo had his 2019 NRL season cut short by injury but after a shoulder reconstruction he's back on deck and captained the Panthers in Saturday's comfortable 32-4 trial win over Wests Tigers.
Yeo was pleased to to come through to match with no worries while he also heaped praise on the "outstanding" Brent Naden.
Wellington Cowboys junior Naden scored one try, set-up two others and was a constant threat with his speed and power out wide all match.
"He's been outstanding this pre-season," Yeo said of Naden when talking to the club's website post-game.
"He built a lot of confidence from last year's season and I think he'll only continue to grow from there.
"He was the standout."
It was a handy night for the Panthers' strong Western Rams-developed contingent as Matt Burton started at halfback while Billy Burns was also part of the run-on side and Kaide Ellis came off the bench.
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Naden scored the first try of the night while he and Burton combined with great effort late on as the Panthers ran away with the match.
"I think the effort was really good all game," Yeo said.
"The first 15-20 minutes was a real grind and that's what you want."
Yeo also wanted to get through Saturday's match without any injury dramas and he achieved that.
The back-rower and former NSW Country representative had impressed physios and coach Ivan Cleary during his return to full fitness.
"It all went according to plan," he said.
"I was speaking to the physio and he was thinking next week but I ticked all the boxes and Ivan asked if I wanted to have a game this week and I was more than happy.
You don't think of it out there, which is nice, and it was good to come through unscathed and tick another box."
Yeo and the Panthers head to the South Coast this week, spending time with bushfire-affected communities before taking on Parramatta in another trial on Saturday.
All profits from ticket sales and donations made through Ticketek will go to The Salvation Army's Rural Assistance Appeal.