Yeo is such a champion.
’I’ve been on the other end’: Panthers skipper’s classy act after historic four-peat
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Penrith Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo has been praised over a classy unseen act following his side’s grand final victory on Sunday night.
The 29-year-old soaked up the historic four-peat with his teammates as the final siren sounded at Accor Stadium.
But shortly after the 14-6 win, he walked away from the celebrations and showed why he’s a true champion of the game.
As all other Panthers players and staff members revelled in their historic achievement, Yeo splintered away from the group and was seen picking up Melbourne Storm players off the turf and consoling them.
The moment was barely sighted on the coverage but the classy act didn’t go completely unnoticed with the skipper asked about it during the post-game press conference.
“What did you say to those guys and what was going through your mind at that moment? Because you’ve obviously been on the other end of it,” one journo asked.
“Yeah probably that, I’ve been on the other end and it’s a low feeling,” Yeo responded.
“They’ve had an unreal season, they finished minor premiers by three wins so certainly a season to be proud of.
“But I feel like I’ve done that most of the time, obviously excited with my group but then also feel for them a little bit too.
“Just said how good of a season they’ve had and yeah try to do that most years to be fair.”
Yeo declared the feat would never be repeated in the salary cap era and said the win all came down to the Panthers defence
“It’s such a special group, we might not be the prettiest team, the way we played throughout the season, but I just feel like our game holds up so much at the back end because of all the little things,” Yeo said.
“We back our defence, all week the media spoke about their spine … but internally we had a real belief in our defence and I think we’ve shown that over the last five years. Sometimes that can get forgotten.”
The victory cements the Panthers their place in rugby league immortality.
It’s their fourth premiership in a row, becoming the first side since the St George Dragons (1956-1966) and the South Sydney Rabbitohs (1925-1929) to achieve that feat.
Four in a row puts this Panthers outfit into the conversation as the best team in rugby league history.
Channel 9 caller Mat Thompson declared: “Rugby league may never see it again. The Penrith Panthers are the Premiers! This is history. A rich piece of rugby league history.”
Host James Bracey said: “It is official, the Penrith Panthers have achieved immortality with a fourth straight premiership title.”
Defeating Melbourne, the most consistent team of the century, is a fitting way to cement their status as undoubtedly the greatest team of the NRL era.
