The last few months have been a "rush" for the Yeo family but Wednesday night may have been the biggest highlight of the lot.
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A large groups of Isaah Yeo's friends and family, including parents Justin and Amy, made the trip to Sydney to watch the St John's junior product make a superb debut for the NSW Blues.
The Penrith Panthers started on the bench but entered the fray midway through the first half and immediately set about proving he belonged in the Origin arena.
"I might be a biased father but he didn't look out of place," Justin said following NSW's convincing 34-10 win.
"I think he contributed really well and we're as proud as punch.
"It's a real feather in his cap. He's an Origin player and they can't take that away from him."
Isaah played 40 minutes in his debut, having been called on after Dragons back-rower Tyson Frizell was forced from the field following a head clash.
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The former Dubbo CYMS young gun made 15 tackles while he ran for 127 metres and made two tackle breaks.
He also made plenty of post-contact metres through the middle of the park and showed his ball playing skills as well, the aspects of his game that delivered Isaah the title of Dally M Lock of the Year in 2020.
"When Frizell went off with that head knock there was a bit of a wave of excitement go around," Justin said.
"Even he (Isaah) said he might have only got 20 or 25 minutes at the end to give Jake Trbojevic a rest."
The feeling for Justin and his wife Amy on Wednesday night was a mile away from last time they were at ANZ Stadium, having left the ground "with heads down" on that occasion after Isaah and the Panthers had been beaten in the grand final by the Melbourne Storm.
But having seen their son be a key part of a minor premiership-winning team that played in a grand final, be named the best player in the competition in his position, and then run out in the colours of his state in a State of Origin matches makes for a year they'll never forget.
And while the NRL's COVID bubble has meant they haven't been able to get as close to Isaah as they'd like through it all, it's still been something they've savoured.
"It's been great. It was just yesterday (Wednesday) I pulled up to work and Dad was on the radio talking about it so it's all exciting. It's been a rush for everyone in the family," Justin said.
"I know he's proud of it, too. Fingers crossed he gets a run (for NSW) next week and then he can come home to Mudgee. I know he's dying to get back to Mudgee and get back to Dubbo to see his mates.
"He told me not long ago he feels bad because his mates keeping going down to watch him and all he can really do is wave to them."
That was the case after the match on Wednesday night and again on Thursday morning.
Family and friends were able to snap a few photos as special mementos with Isaah after the match, all from a few metres away, while there was another wave on Thursday morning as the Yeos and the Blues squad departed their accommodation at the same time.
For Isaah, it was then a return to the Blues bubble to begin the build-up to next weekend's all-important third game of the series.
Isaah appears every chance of retaining his spot after such a strong debut, one which draw plenty of praise on social media.
Former NRL player Joe Williams, the man who gave Isaah his first grade debut when they were both at Dubbo CYMS, described it as a "top debut from a top young man".
Game three of the series is next Wednesday night at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium.