During the 2014 season, a few months after making his NRL debut, a 19-year-old kid by the name of Isaah Yeo sat down with the Weekender to talk about his rookie season so far and his hopes for the future.
The interview took place at Penrith Park in early June, and Yeo hadn’t lost a game in first grade or NSW Cup yet – it was the perfect start to what would end up being an amazing career.
“I’m loving life at the moment,” Yeo said to your writer at the time.
“I honestly didn’t think I’d be playing first grade at all this year. I thought I’d play Under 20s all year with a handful of NSW Cup games, so it came as a real shock.”
With a host of talent coming through the Panthers system like Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and Bryce Cartwright, the Penrith supporter base was also in shock when a tall, lanky kid from Dubbo became the first of them all to get a crack at the big time.
Yeo’s current coach, Ivan Cleary, was the man to hand him his surprise debut during a Round 1 match-up at home against Wayne Bennett’s Newcastle Knights.
“Ivan just said he was happy with my work ethic during the pre-season and the year before that in the Under 20s. I think that helped me a fair bit being picked,” Yeo said in 2014.
Yeo played in the centres that Saturday afternoon and no one could’ve predicted he’d carve out an illustrious career as a lock many years later.
“I’m a really big fan of Elijah Taylor’s work ethic… I’m not much of a flashy player, so I try and do what he does by making lots of tackles and hit-ups,” Yeo said.
“I hope to continue improving.”
And improve he did.
Yeo would go on to play for his state and country, co-captain his club, and win three consecutive NRL Premierships – and possibly a fourth, if things go to plan in the coming weeks.
But among all the Preliminary Finals hype this weekend, Yeo will unlock an achievement no-one would’ve predicted a decade ago would ever come his way.
When the proud father of three steps out onto the Accor Stadium pitch this Saturday night, he’ll break the all-time club record for the most games played. With his 244th appearance, Yeo will surpass club legend Steve Carter, who held the record with 243 caps.
Speaking with the Weekender in the lead up to the historic occasion, Yeo said he’s immensely proud to notch up the milestone at a club he holds dear.
“All I’ve ever tried to do is be as consistent as I possibly can, so that’s been ever since I first come into grade and I guess off the back of consistency, it allows you to play more games and I’ve always been pretty lucky with injuries and stuff like that – touch wood,” he said.
“You never know at the start of your career what it’s going to look like, but I’m very fortunate and, particularly these last few years, have been very good fun and successful.
“The record is not something I’ve ever focused on or ever looked towards, but it’s something I’ll be looking on very proudly.”
Fellow Panthers co-captain Nathan Cleary was just a teenager coming through the system during Yeo’s rookie season 10 years ago.
“I remember him back then. He actually debuted in the centres, and I think he was up against Joey Leilua too, so it was a good initiation to the NRL,” Cleary told Extra Time.
“Yeoy has just improved in leaps and bounds since then and really found a home for himself at lock. He was playing second-row and centre when I first came in and his meteoric rise has been crazy, but he’s always been a really reliable guy and just a good guy to have around.”
To celebrate Yeo’s record-breaking achievement, the club this week released a commemorative t-shirt for fans to purchase ahead of this weekend’s clash against Cronulla.
Cleary said Yeo is like an older brother to him and that he deserves everything that comes his way.
“244 games is incredible feat and I know Yeoy will be humble about it, so I’ll talk him up,” he said.
“Yeoy has been there since I debuted and I’ve always seen him like an older brother, and he’s probably formed into more of a dad figure to the rest of the group now. He’s the sort of guy everyone looks to, to see if we’re doing the right thing – he keeps everyone in check.
“But the thing that stands out the most is his consistency, it’s unbelievable. What he does every single week, in the middle, playing 80 minutes – you don’t see that often – and he’s the big reason for our success.
“To see him break the record… I still look at him and think he’s quite young – even though he looks old – he’s still quite young. And to be the most capped at a club like Penrith, I couldn’t think of a better person than him. Just his leadership and consistency really stand out for me and I love that guy.”
In a soon to be released podcast by the Western Weekender, 54-year-old Steve Carter said he couldn’t think of a better player to break his long-standing record than Yeo.
“He’s tough, he’s durable, he’s skilful. He’s come from the bush and he’s just a great footballer and a great person off the field,” Carter said.
“You wouldn’t get a better player on or off the field than Isaah Yeo.”
Yeo said he was honoured to hear Carter’s praise for everything that he’s achieved after 243 games.
“Steve’s said nothing but nice things about me and I’m very grateful for that,” the 29-year-old said.
“I received a message before the Roosters game last week when I was tying the record and it said, ‘Steve was a wonderful player and an ultra-competitor’. And I guess anytime you can be associated with someone like that, that’s a good feeling.
“He’s obviously a legend of the club, very durable, played a number of different positions like myself, so it’s pretty special.”
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.