Key posts
Isaah Yeo becomes first Panther to reach 250 games
By Christian Nicolussi
Isaah Yeo had one aim when he started his rugby league career – to eclipse his father, Justin, who played 11 first-grade games for Balmain and North Sydney.
“Dad would always mouth off about his 11 games, so when I started, the goal was to play 12 games and score one try – anything after that was going to be a bonus,” Isaah told this masthead. “I’ve lapped the old man now.”
Yeo brings up 250 games for the Panthers against North Queensland on Friday night at Commbank Stadium. He overtook Steve Carter’s long-standing club record of 242 games during last year’s preliminary finals.
Now 30, Yeo is playing as well as ever and, with a bit of luck, will reach 300 games before his contract runs out at the end of 2027. After that, Yeo is open to a move to Super League, or Perth.
Yeo, the recipient of the 2024 Golden Boot awarded to the game’s best player, was only too happy to take time out to recall his previous milestone games.
Can Cleary end the Panthers’ slump?
Nathan Cleary is back and the Penrith Panthers desperately need him after suffering three straight losses for the first time since 2019. After racking up four consecutive premierships – easily the best run of any club in the salary cap era – it looks like the impact of the cap may have finally caught up with Penrith.
A month into the new season they sit just one win above strugglers Parramatta and the Dolphins. They are a win behind three-time wooden spooners the Wests Tigers, who are now being led by former Panthers Jarome Luai, Apisai Koroisau, Sunia Turuva and former Penrith junior Terrell May.
But there have been some explanations for the Panthers’ struggles. Not only have they lost players to other clubs in the off-season, they’ve also had key injuries this year. Cleary missed last week and the bulk of the previous game after a head knock, Dylan Edwards is sidelined with a groin injury, and Brian To’o is out tonight after leaving last week’s loss to Souths with a hamstring injury.
The playmaking spine that won the first grand final of Penrith’s title streak was Edwards, Luai, Cleary and Koroisau – and none of that quartet lined up for the Panthers last week. Will Cleary’s return be enough to get the Panthers back on track?
Your say – Penrith or North Queensland?
Welcome to Friday night footy
By Dominic Brock
Hello and welcome to our coverage of tonight’s NRL action, kicking off with Penrith’s clash with North Queensland before South Sydney take on the Roosters.
Panthers halfback Nathan Cleary.Credit: Getty Images
Both games tonight feature heavyweights from last season that are struggling so far in 2025. Four-time reigning premiers Penrith have lost three straight games for the first time in six years, while the Roosters – who finished third on the ladder last year – have also lost three of their first four games this season.
We have some big names back on deck tonight as well, with Nathan Cleary returning from concussion for the Panthers while Latrell Mitchell makes his long-awaited return for Wayne Bennett’s Rabbitohs in the centres.
Kick-off for the first game is at 6pm AEDT. Should be a fun night.
