Injuries have once again taken their toll on the Central West's rugby league products, with Dubbo's own Isaah Yeo set to be benched for the Penrith Panther's clash with Brisbane this week, while Forbes' Joel Thompson has played his last game in the NRL.
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The Panthers will make the trip to Suncorp stadium to take on the beleaguered Brisbane side, but Yeo will be left at home after suffering a head knock during last week's win over the West Tigers.
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Yeo spent time on the sidelines with injuries over the past year, but is unlikely to be out for long, with the in-form lock sitting out as part of a 'cautionary' measure, according to coach Ivan Cleary.
Yeo was cleared during a routine HIA during the course of the game.
Fellow Central West products Billy Burns and Matt Burton will feature in the reverses for the Thursday night fixture, with the Panthers' aiming to become the first team since the 2016 Sharks to win 12 back to back games.
Burton's future at the club is still uncertain, with a number of clubs reportedly interested in talking to the young star when he becomes available in November.
Cleary has floated ideas, including a position and role change, as possible solutions to keep the talented newcomer in a Panther's jersey.
Red Bend Catholic College product Joel Thompson has also suffered a knock due to injury, with his NRL career coming to a close during the Manly Sea Eagles recent 30 - 6 loss to the Melbourne Storm.
Thompson took to social media to make the announcement, revealing that the injury would require surgery that would see him sidelined for the last four rounds of the competition.
"Unfortunately I played my last NRL game on Sunday," Thompson's post siad.
"It hurts to finish in the NRL that way but I pushed on for as long as I could."
Thompson captained the Indigenous side that also featured Wellington's Tyrone Peachey, Kotoni Staggs and Blake Ferguson earlier this year.
He has already been linked with super league club St. Helens and will return to Forbes in November as part of a community visit to discuss mental health.
