Sitting home alone having a cup of tea might not be the way you'd picture someone celebrating an award on Dally M night but that was the case for Isaah Yeo on Monday.
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With NRL players confined to a restricted bubble this year due to COVID-19 there was no gala Dally M awards night, meaning Dubbo junior Yeo watched on TV when he was announced as Lock of the Year.
Yeo's Penrith teammate Nathan Cleary might have missed out on the main prize on the night to Orange product and Canberra star Jack Wighton, but the former St John's junior was one of a number of Panthers recognised on a special night for the club.
"It was a bit of a surprise," Yeo said of his award.
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"I was flicking between the channels and I knew it was getting close to the end so I was watching more so to see if Nath jagged the Dally M or not and then it just popped up before that."
I was sitting on my own drinking a cup of tea to be honest so it got me by surprise."
The award was recognition for what has been Yeo's best in the NRL.
He's been a tower of consistency in the middle of the park for the club and is firmly in the running to be named in part of the NSW Origin squad following the weekend's NRL grand final clash with the Melbourne Storm.
He was one of six individuals from Penrith recognised on Monday in a special night for the club, while the awards ceremony was also noteworthy for the Western Rams region.
Wighton collected the Dally M after another sensational season with the Raiders while Wellington Cowboys junior Kotoni Staggs was awarded two individual gongs.
Staggs was one of the few shining lights in what was a horror year for the Brisbane Broncos and his efforts were rewarded in a big way.
He was awarded Centre of the Year along with Penrith's Stephen Crichton while the 21-year-old powerhouse was also given Try of the Year for his brilliant individual effort against the Dragons in round 15.
Staggs collected the ball deep inside in his own half on that occasion, before sending Dragons centre Euan Aitken tumbling with a dominant fend and then beat tackles and threw a dummy on his way to the stunning four-pointer.
The rewards come as a real boost for Staggs as he faces up to nine months on the sideline after undergoing knee surgery in recent weeks.
Staggs' double was a highlight but there was no doubt the night belonged to Wighton and the Panthers.
Yeo was one of five Panthers named in the Dally M Team of the Year.
"It goes to show we've been consistent and we've been playing well," Yeo said.
Penrith take on the Storm this Sunday.
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.
