To underline just how important Isaah Yeo is to this champion Penrith side – and acknowledge his place in leading rugby league’s great modern-day dynasty – ask yourself how many points you think he’s worth on the scoreboard.
When I consider just how influential Yeo is to the Panthers in attack, defence and as a co-captain, I think he translates to eight or even 10 points a game.
I also don’t think he’ll play again this season, as hard as he’ll try to avoid surgery and rehabilitate his pectoral injury. It’s just such a significant injury and the way he reeled out of that tackle last Friday night had me instantly thinking “he’s done”.
And if Isaah doesn’t return to the paddock, then Penrith don’t win the premiership in 2026.
He’s the Australia, NSW and Panthers captain, and he’s just that influential.
And what Ivan and Nathan Cleary do without him – starting with what, I think, will be the game of the season against the high-flying Roosters on Thursday night – absolutely fascinates me.
Back to the old school: How Nathan Cleary will adapt
Yeo is the best ball-playing lock in the NRL, and an incredibly smart footballer to boot.
His absence is huge and means more minutes for Moses Leota and Liam Henry in the middle. Yeo and injured hooker Mitch Kenny lead Penrith’s line speed, and Yeo is also a fantastic clean-up man: he’s often the guy who falls on a loose ball or fixes up a mistake, with or without the ball.
But it’s in attack where Penrith will miss him most.
Lindsay Smith will slot into the ball-playing link role and has shown promise there. But with the greatest of respect to Lindsay, he’s not in the same class as Yeo – be it with his pass selection, speed or run threat.
That last aspect makes all the difference with Yeo. The defence has to remain on guard because he’s a threat to the line on his own as a big body capable of getting into half a gap or creating a quick play-the-ball.
And between the halfway line and opposition try line, Yeo is regularly Penrith’s first receiver, freeing up Nathan Cleary to link with Dylan Edwards on their right edge or until the past few weeks, Blaize Talagi on their left.
While Yeo is sidelined, I think we’ll see Cleary play more like the old-school halfback from the 1990s and early 2000s.
Cleary has averaged about 64 touches a game for the past few years as the best No.7 of his generation. But interestingly, Yeo’s touches have dropped in recent seasons – from an average of 35 a game in 2023 to 25 this year.
I think we’ll see Nathan take on a lot more responsibility without his big No.13. And as an opposition in defence, this puts you on alert – he is the best player in the game, of course.
But it also means you can target him on both sides of the ball. If I’m the Roosters, I’m really targeting Cleary in defence, racking up his tackles early and building fatigue that could impact his decision-making.
Jack Cogger is Penrith’s best option at five-eighth while Yeo is out injured, though he is in doubt for Thursday night given his wife is due to give birth. Cogger is a natural halfback and when he combines with Cleary in the halves, Nathan often reverts to a more traditional No.6 role with more emphasis on his running game.
You only have to listen to Nathan talk about the famous 2023 grand final and how Cogger straightened Penrith’s attack (see the two try-scoring plays below) to know the difference he offers them, and without Yeo, I think the Panthers need that influence more than ever.
Without Yeo, how long can Penrith maintain the rage?
My concern about this champion side is how long it takes for their attack to adjust to life without their No.13, particularly in the next three weeks. Last Friday they went to war against the Warriors and were bashed up, travelled back from Auckland and are now on a short turnaround against the Roosters.
Next Thursday they face Melbourne in Melbourne – with Harry Grant and Cameron Munster back on deck – before another physical match-up with Canterbury, and then Wests Tigers in the final round.
With these injuries and a finals campaign that will require at least three massive physical and mental challenges, it’s a two-month run ahead of brutal rugby league, all with their spiritual leader trying to get back on the paddock.
Unfortunately for Penrith, I think it’s an impossible task.
Now or never for the Roosters to end Penrith’s dominance
First things first though, they host the Roosters, who they’ve beaten 12 times in their last 13 clashes.
Again, Yeo has been a huge part of that dominance. And from that monumental winning streak, the Panthers boast a points differential of +229.
Earlier this year, they put on a clinic with a 40-4 thrashing of the Chooks and Penrith’s style of play – focusing on high completion rates, field position, grinding and squeezing the life out of the opposition – has buckled the Roosters so often.
If Trent Robinson’s side is going to buck that trend though, this is the time to do it.
How Penrith adapt without Yeo is the great unknown, while the Roosters were flat last week against Canterbury, but still found a way to win.
Coming off the 82 points they scored against North Queensland, the Chooks were only a six out of 10 against the Bulldogs, but I have no doubt they already had half an eye on this game.
The loss of James Tedesco as he failed to recover from an ankle injury is huge for them. If Yeo is worth eight to 10 points a game, then I put Teddy’s value at 10 to 12 points for the Roosters.
He’s just so critical to their attack around the ruck and defensive set-ups, but Cody Ramsey brings his own unique running game as a replacement, while Victor Radley emulates Yeo’s linking role when they get attacking ball with the Roosters halves.
Cleary and Sam Walker go around again after they lit up this year’s Origin series. You won’t find two more different halfbacks.
That said, I think Nathan is playing with a lot more risk in his game this season – he’s taking more chances and trying different kicks. Again, it will be fascinating to see how he approaches the contest without Yeo alongside him.
And as for Walker, well he’s just fascinating, full stop – he’s the most unpredictable player in the competition and plays without a safety net.
Even with Tedesco out, the Roosters hold the cards in this match. Who’d have thought you could say that when they face the Panthers?
But Penrith’s travel, the short turnaround, Yeo’s injury and last week’s physical assault from the Warriors have me favouring the Roosters forwards to get on top.
Naufahu Whyte up against Moses Leota will rock CommBank Stadium, with Spencer Leniu and Liam Henry right behind them, while the Tricolours’ young back-rowers Siua Wong and Salesi Foketi are in fantastic form, too.
My surf report has a strong southerly wind whipping in all day and night, which means a dry, fast track come kick-off.
I think it will take 24 points or more to win this game and while the Panthers work out their attack, I doubt they have that in them.
Joey’s tip: Roosters by 12
First try-scorer: Mark Nawaqanitawase
Man of the match: Sam Walker
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Andrew Johns is an Immortal, a Newcastle great and a commentator for Channel NineFrom our partners
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