Penrith preparing for the possibility of finals without skipper Isaah Yeo
The Panthers' trainer fiasco has dominated headlines in recent days, with Corey Bocking facing a five-match ban for the goal-kicker interference last week.
But the bigger deal could be the fitness of Yeo, who did not finish the golden-point win over Gold Coast and is facing at least a small stint out.
Yeo will not form part of Penrith's team for Friday night's clash with Newcastle, with Isaiah Papali'i to wear the No.13 jersey.
Since the start of the Panthers' run in 2020, Yeo has only missed 16 games for the club.
Some 14 of those have been through State of Origin duties or being rested, with the other two in 2020 and 2022 following head knocks.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary confirmed this week Yeo had not completely dislocated his right shoulder when he fell awkwardly last Saturday.
But Cleary could also not say how long the Australia Test captain would be out, or if he could have played this week had it been a grand final.
'Clearly there's been a little bit of a concern with his shoulder,' Cleary said.
'We'll just give him as much time as he needs, and we're very confident he'll be back.'
Asked how soon the 30-year-old's return could be, Cleary responded: 'We don't know.
'It was a sublux, so it didn't come right out. They all vary,' Cleary said.
'The fact that he can keep playing is a really good sign. Obviously he pulled up a little sore at halftime and then after the game.
'He won't be playing this week, and we'll just take it as it comes and see how he goes.'
Panthers prop Luron Patea will also miss Friday night's clash with a collarbone injury, but Cleary said the 20-year-old's scan was 'better'.
Penrith are no strangers to facing a run into the finals with shoulder issues, with Nathan Cleary and Jarome Luai having carried them in recent years.
'Yeoy he is a massive integral part of our side ... To fill his shoes it is going to be a bit of a joint venture,' prop Lindsay Smith said.
'There are definitely a couple of us boys in the middle that need to take a step up.
'You can't replicate Yeoy and you can't replicate his leadership and calmness on the field.
'But everyone can chip in there in their own department to fill that void as a whole ... When he's been out, we've been able to do that in games.'
Penrith were beaten by the Knights in an Origin-affected Round 12 game, with that match marking their last loss before the club's eight straight wins.
The streak means Penrith are now a chance of going from last two months ago to the top four as soon as this weekend.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Advertiser
2 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Warriors defiant after loss, Bulldogs answer critics
The Warriors' top-four dream is threatening to slip away after a 32-14 loss to Canterbury continued their disastrously timed form slump ahead of the NRL finals. Saturday night's loss in rainy Sydney caps a tough month for the depleted Kiwi side, who will finish a weekend outside the top four for the first time since round six. Now in fifth, the Warriors' top-four hopes have been left to rely on red-hot Penrith losing once on the run home - assuming they win all four of their own remaining games. That is easier said than done for the Warriors, who have lost their last three matches and have watched the Panthers, 17th after round 12, jump into fourth. "Everyone wants to be a top-four team. It gives you a really good shot at the end of the season," said Warriors coach Andrew Webster. "But tonight won't define us. We've got a lot of football to play at the back end of this year. "No one is happy in there (in the dressing room). We wish we were winning each week at the moment. But there's a lot to build off and a lot of spirit in that group. We'll keep fighting." To make matters worse, Te Maire Martin will join an already busy casualty ward after a head knock 23 minutes into his first game replacing Tanah Boyd at halfback. Boyd is set to replace Martin for next week's clash with giant-killers St George Illawarra, who could leave the Warriors as low as seventh on the ladder by the end of round 24. The Warriors are still not guaranteed to play finals but will finish the season with a winning record if they can snatch one more victory. Canterbury's three biggest losses this season have all come in the wet, but the Bulldogs finally mastered the slippery conditions before 25,377 home fans. "I woke up and read in the paper today that we couldn't play in the wet. It was nice to prove that one wrong," said coach Cameron Ciraldo. They remain in the hunt for a top-two spot, only behind second-placed Melbourne on points differential. After three early penalty goals between the sides in the driving rain, the Bulldogs began to control territory on the back of Matt Burton's boot. Bailey Hayward replaced North Queensland-bound Reed Mahoney at starting hooker as a possible glimpse into the Bulldogs' future. Mahoney only made it on in the final 16 minutes when the result appeared beyond doubt, with Ciraldo indicating Hayward would remain at No.9 next week. "He's earned the right to start the game through his performances. That's really hard on Reed, because Reed's been doing a lot of good things for us," Ciraldo said. "It's not so much about him, it's more about Bailey." Hayward sent a short ball from dummy half for Viliame Kikau to score the Bulldogs' first try, the big man slipping over attempting a left-foot step and sliding to the tryline. Errors hurt the Warriors and put the Bulldogs in position to score their second on the left through rookie winger Jethro Rinakama. On the back of two repeat sets, Enari Tuala dived over on the right in the final 90 seconds of the first half to lift the scoreline to 20-2 and leave the Warriors at sea. A crisp pass from Jacob Kiraz helped Tuala to his second as the final 10 minutes approached. In his fourth NRL game, Sam Healey had his first try with a kick for himself out of dummy half, before a late Roger Tuivasa-Sheck intercept try put some respectability on the scoreboard. The Warriors' top-four dream is threatening to slip away after a 32-14 loss to Canterbury continued their disastrously timed form slump ahead of the NRL finals. Saturday night's loss in rainy Sydney caps a tough month for the depleted Kiwi side, who will finish a weekend outside the top four for the first time since round six. Now in fifth, the Warriors' top-four hopes have been left to rely on red-hot Penrith losing once on the run home - assuming they win all four of their own remaining games. That is easier said than done for the Warriors, who have lost their last three matches and have watched the Panthers, 17th after round 12, jump into fourth. "Everyone wants to be a top-four team. It gives you a really good shot at the end of the season," said Warriors coach Andrew Webster. "But tonight won't define us. We've got a lot of football to play at the back end of this year. "No one is happy in there (in the dressing room). We wish we were winning each week at the moment. But there's a lot to build off and a lot of spirit in that group. We'll keep fighting." To make matters worse, Te Maire Martin will join an already busy casualty ward after a head knock 23 minutes into his first game replacing Tanah Boyd at halfback. Boyd is set to replace Martin for next week's clash with giant-killers St George Illawarra, who could leave the Warriors as low as seventh on the ladder by the end of round 24. The Warriors are still not guaranteed to play finals but will finish the season with a winning record if they can snatch one more victory. Canterbury's three biggest losses this season have all come in the wet, but the Bulldogs finally mastered the slippery conditions before 25,377 home fans. "I woke up and read in the paper today that we couldn't play in the wet. It was nice to prove that one wrong," said coach Cameron Ciraldo. They remain in the hunt for a top-two spot, only behind second-placed Melbourne on points differential. After three early penalty goals between the sides in the driving rain, the Bulldogs began to control territory on the back of Matt Burton's boot. Bailey Hayward replaced North Queensland-bound Reed Mahoney at starting hooker as a possible glimpse into the Bulldogs' future. Mahoney only made it on in the final 16 minutes when the result appeared beyond doubt, with Ciraldo indicating Hayward would remain at No.9 next week. "He's earned the right to start the game through his performances. That's really hard on Reed, because Reed's been doing a lot of good things for us," Ciraldo said. "It's not so much about him, it's more about Bailey." Hayward sent a short ball from dummy half for Viliame Kikau to score the Bulldogs' first try, the big man slipping over attempting a left-foot step and sliding to the tryline. Errors hurt the Warriors and put the Bulldogs in position to score their second on the left through rookie winger Jethro Rinakama. On the back of two repeat sets, Enari Tuala dived over on the right in the final 90 seconds of the first half to lift the scoreline to 20-2 and leave the Warriors at sea. A crisp pass from Jacob Kiraz helped Tuala to his second as the final 10 minutes approached. In his fourth NRL game, Sam Healey had his first try with a kick for himself out of dummy half, before a late Roger Tuivasa-Sheck intercept try put some respectability on the scoreboard. The Warriors' top-four dream is threatening to slip away after a 32-14 loss to Canterbury continued their disastrously timed form slump ahead of the NRL finals. Saturday night's loss in rainy Sydney caps a tough month for the depleted Kiwi side, who will finish a weekend outside the top four for the first time since round six. Now in fifth, the Warriors' top-four hopes have been left to rely on red-hot Penrith losing once on the run home - assuming they win all four of their own remaining games. That is easier said than done for the Warriors, who have lost their last three matches and have watched the Panthers, 17th after round 12, jump into fourth. "Everyone wants to be a top-four team. It gives you a really good shot at the end of the season," said Warriors coach Andrew Webster. "But tonight won't define us. We've got a lot of football to play at the back end of this year. "No one is happy in there (in the dressing room). We wish we were winning each week at the moment. But there's a lot to build off and a lot of spirit in that group. We'll keep fighting." To make matters worse, Te Maire Martin will join an already busy casualty ward after a head knock 23 minutes into his first game replacing Tanah Boyd at halfback. Boyd is set to replace Martin for next week's clash with giant-killers St George Illawarra, who could leave the Warriors as low as seventh on the ladder by the end of round 24. The Warriors are still not guaranteed to play finals but will finish the season with a winning record if they can snatch one more victory. Canterbury's three biggest losses this season have all come in the wet, but the Bulldogs finally mastered the slippery conditions before 25,377 home fans. "I woke up and read in the paper today that we couldn't play in the wet. It was nice to prove that one wrong," said coach Cameron Ciraldo. They remain in the hunt for a top-two spot, only behind second-placed Melbourne on points differential. After three early penalty goals between the sides in the driving rain, the Bulldogs began to control territory on the back of Matt Burton's boot. Bailey Hayward replaced North Queensland-bound Reed Mahoney at starting hooker as a possible glimpse into the Bulldogs' future. Mahoney only made it on in the final 16 minutes when the result appeared beyond doubt, with Ciraldo indicating Hayward would remain at No.9 next week. "He's earned the right to start the game through his performances. That's really hard on Reed, because Reed's been doing a lot of good things for us," Ciraldo said. "It's not so much about him, it's more about Bailey." Hayward sent a short ball from dummy half for Viliame Kikau to score the Bulldogs' first try, the big man slipping over attempting a left-foot step and sliding to the tryline. Errors hurt the Warriors and put the Bulldogs in position to score their second on the left through rookie winger Jethro Rinakama. On the back of two repeat sets, Enari Tuala dived over on the right in the final 90 seconds of the first half to lift the scoreline to 20-2 and leave the Warriors at sea. A crisp pass from Jacob Kiraz helped Tuala to his second as the final 10 minutes approached. In his fourth NRL game, Sam Healey had his first try with a kick for himself out of dummy half, before a late Roger Tuivasa-Sheck intercept try put some respectability on the scoreboard.
West Australian
6 hours ago
- West Australian
New Zealand post record Test win against Zimbabwe
New Zealand have recorded their biggest-ever Test win by crushing Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs in the second match to wrap up a lopsided series 2-0. Zimbabwe, trailing by 476 runs, were bowled out for 117 in an extended first session on the third day against a rampant four-pronged New Zealand pace attack. Debutant fast bowler Zakary Foulkes followed his four-wicket haul in the first innings with 5-37 and narrowly missed out a 10-wicket haul in his memorable Test debut. Fast bowlers Matt Henry (2-16), Jacob Duffy (2-28) and Matthew Fisher (1-22) were also among the wickets as Zimbabwe were dismissed in 28.1 overs for their lowest total in the series. No.3 batter Nick Welch remained unbeaten on 47 off 71 balls and was one of only two Zimbabwe batters to reach double figures along with captain Craig Ervine, who made 17. New Zealand had earlier declared their first innings at the overnight monumental 3-601 with Rachin Ravindra (165 not out) and Henry Nicholls (150 not out) combining in a blazing 256-run fourth-wicket stand. New Zealand had won the first Test by nine wickets, inside three days, at the same venue last week. The series was not part of the World Test Championship.
Perth Now
6 hours ago
- Perth Now
New Zealand post record Test win against Zimbabwe
New Zealand have recorded their biggest-ever Test win by crushing Zimbabwe by an innings and 359 runs in the second match to wrap up a lopsided series 2-0. Zimbabwe, trailing by 476 runs, were bowled out for 117 in an extended first session on the third day against a rampant four-pronged New Zealand pace attack. Debutant fast bowler Zakary Foulkes followed his four-wicket haul in the first innings with 5-37 and narrowly missed out a 10-wicket haul in his memorable Test debut. Fast bowlers Matt Henry (2-16), Jacob Duffy (2-28) and Matthew Fisher (1-22) were also among the wickets as Zimbabwe were dismissed in 28.1 overs for their lowest total in the series. No.3 batter Nick Welch remained unbeaten on 47 off 71 balls and was one of only two Zimbabwe batters to reach double figures along with captain Craig Ervine, who made 17. New Zealand had earlier declared their first innings at the overnight monumental 3-601 with Rachin Ravindra (165 not out) and Henry Nicholls (150 not out) combining in a blazing 256-run fourth-wicket stand. New Zealand had won the first Test by nine wickets, inside three days, at the same venue last week. The series was not part of the World Test Championship.
