The Penrith Panthers 2025 season was one of resilience rather than dominance.

After sitting last on the ladder after 12 rounds, the Panthers rallied to finish seventh and still pushed all the way to a preliminary final, where they were narrowly beaten by eventual premiers Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium. The second half of the season saw Penrith regain defensive steel, finishing as the best defensive side in the competition across the back end of the year.

However, cracks were exposed. New combinations on the edges, increased workload on Nathan Cleary, and a younger roster adjusting to life without long-serving enforcers highlighted areas that need improvement. If Penrith are to return to the summit in 2026, these five players play critical roles.

3. Isaah Yeo

Why his role is so important
Isaah Yeo is the connective tissue of the Penrith Panthers. Everything they do flows through his ability to control tempo, organise the middle, and link the forwards with Nathan Cleary. As captain and lock, Yeo is responsible for setting defensive standards, managing ruck speed, and making the right decisions under fatigue.

With Penrith losing senior forwards in recent seasons and carrying more youth through the pack, Yeo's role has only grown. He is not just a ball player or a workhorse, he is the organiser that allows Penrith's system to function at an elite level. He remains one of the benchmark players in the competition and every club would build their side around him. When Yeo is dominant, Penrith look composed, patient and in control.

When his influence is reduced, cracks begin to show.

What needs to improve
Yeo has been up for a long time. Season after season of deep finals runs, representative football, and carrying leadership responsibility may be starting to take a toll.

In 2025, his workload was again enormous, particularly as Cleary shouldered a heavier kicking load and the Panthers adjusted to new edge combinations. While his defensive output and effort never dipped, his attacking presence was less pronounced than in previous premiership seasons. His running game through the middle was not as threatening, and opposition sides were more comfortable allowing him to distribute without fearing his carry.

Interestingly, his role in representative football shifted noticeably. Under Michael Maguire in 2024 and again in Laurie Daley's Origin side, Yeo played far more as a traditional middle forward, focusing on tough carries, ruck control and quick play the balls rather than acting as a secondary playmaker.

Whether he continues to absorb that middle workload to help bring young forwards through, or returns more frequently to engaging the line and playing as an extra half within Penrith's structure, will be a key factor in how effective the Panthers are. A full uninterrupted pre season will be critical after carrying injuries in 2025.

Why his improvement matters
Penrith's margin for error has narrowed. They no longer overwhelm teams purely through depth and system alone. Yeo staying on the park and playing close to his best is central to everything Penrith do.

His ability to combine leadership, defensive authority and attacking involvement eases pressure on Cleary, reduces predictability through the middle, and gives the Panthers control in the moments that matter most. If Yeo maintains that standard, Penrith remain a genuine premiership threat.

If his influence is blunted by fatigue or injury, the entire system feels it. His improvement is not about proving his quality. It is about sustaining it.

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