NSW State of Origin skipper Isaah Yeo lauded ahead 2025 series opener
Paul Gallen has labelled Isaah Yeo as one of the greatest locks of all time, as the NSW star prepares to become the next number 13 to captain the Blues.
Yeo will lead NSW against Queensland for the first time on Wednesday night in the State of Origin series opener at Lang Park.
In doing so, the four-time Penrith premiership winner — who is also the Australian team captain — has a chance to tick off one of the last remaining feats available to him — leading NSW to Origin success.
The Blues enter Origin I as favourites to defend the shield.
"He (Yeo) will be remembered as one of the greats and he deserves it," said Gallen, who was the last lock to captain the Blues.
"He is brilliant. The thing about Yeo-y is he is known as a ball-playing lock, but he is more than that.
"He has the ability to play front row. He can play that hard role. If you're 10 metres out from your own line and you need someone to have a hit up, he will do it.
"But when you're in the 20-metre zone attacking the tryline, he comes alive. He is alive all over the field.
"He's got every part of the game you need to be remembered as a great forward."
Dubbo-born Yeo is often overshadowed by the likes of Panthers teammate Nathan Cleary.
But many NRL observers believe 30-year-old Yeo deserves as much recognition.
It was in that vein former NSW enforcer Mark Geyer labelled Yeo an Immortal-in-waiting this week, a stance backed by Yeo's first Penrith captain Peter Wallace.
"The lock position, we know now, is pretty much because of Isaah Yeo," said former Blues halfback Wallace, who is now an assistant at Penrith.
"Even in 2020, all forwards passed but there wasn't a link man in the middle. He was one of the first who excelled in doing that role.
"And then he has gone on to win four premierships in a row, captain his country and his state now. Won series with both as well.
"When you think about the Immortals, those Immortals that have been named, Yeoy has done just as much."
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