“I’d prefer to suppose we will continue to grow and constructing as a membership and profitable competitions. That’s what we’ll talk about as soon as we’re again at pre-season coaching.
“We’re an in depth facet but in addition one which retains one another accountable. We’re additionally one of many youngest sides to win an NRL premiership. We lose Matt Burton, Kurt Capewell and Brent Naden, however guys like Izack Tago and Taylan Could will come by means of, and with that youth comes starvation and contemporary legs.”
Yeo, 26, mentioned the opposite groups within the high six can be contenders, and there was at all times a darkish horse. He mentioned the gamers had endured a roller-coaster interval after the State of Origin sequence, which included accidents to Cleary, Brian To’o and Jarome Luai, in addition to the lack of James Fisher-Harris for a couple of weeks to attend the delivery of his son in Sydney.
Then when the Panthers misplaced in week one of many finals, Yeo mentioned the gamers knew they would wish to do it the exhausting method, but when they may defeat Parramatta and Melbourne, “we’d be battle-hardened for the grand remaining”.
Yeo knew Penrith had received the decider when Reynolds’ area objective fell brief and rolled over the dead-ball line late within the sport to offer the Panthers a seven-tackle set. He dreaded watching Reynolds line up a sideline conversion only a few minutes earlier that will have tied the sport.
“I used to be cramping when Adam took that shot and I used to be panicking as a result of each hammys had gone on me,” Yeo mentioned. “I used to be making an attempt to get the pickle juice into me and [trainer] Craig Catterick was rubbing warmth into my legs as I watched the kick.
“It was not a pleasant method for Adam to complete at Souths, and it will have been the final word fairytale had he kicked the conversion, then kicked the sector objective, however I’m glad he didn’t.”
The Panthers haven’t been shy about posting photographs of their premiership rings, in addition to a patched-up Provan-Summons Trophy being pushed in a pram. Yeo says he noticed the trophy in a parking lot on Friday and “it appeared in good nick to me”.
Some followers had been sad with the quantity of on-line content material the gamers posted, together with Viliame Kikau singing “Glory, glory to South Sydney”.
“We’ve received and the boys are having fun with themselves,” Yeo mentioned. “It takes so much to win one, so once you do it’s bloody pleasing. I wouldn’t spray one other workforce for doing the identical factor.
“Had we not received, the identical individuals can be spraying us over social media saying we will’t win the massive video games.”
As for co-captain Cleary, Yeo mentioned: “He’s a Clive Churchill Medal winner, a premiership winner, Origin winner … he might retire now and have probably the greatest resumes ever. He’s solely 23. He’s nonetheless received 250 NRL video games to go. You wish to construct your membership round halfbacks and we’ve received one who’s the perfect within the competitors main us round.”
Yeo began the lengthy journey from the Sunshine Coast to the household dwelling in Mudgee on Saturday, with loads of deliberate stops for his closely pregnant associate, Ashleigh. The couple will welcome their first baby in six weeks.
Then it’s again to pre-season coaching. Then presumably one other title. Then a couple of extra.
‘Cleary will maintain bettering’: Maloney
James Maloney revelled in watching his former Penrith and NSW Origin halves associate Nathan Cleary kick the Panthers to a grand remaining victory from his lounge within the south of France and even FaceTimed him an hour after the win.
Like Penrith co-captain Yeo, Maloney mentioned the scary factor about Cleary was that he would seemingly get higher.
“He’s solely 23, he’s received a number of Origin sequence and now a grand remaining, and he’ll maintain bettering,” mentioned Maloney, who hoped to bow out a winner himself for Catalans within the Tremendous League remaining early Sunday morning (AEDT).
Loading
“I do know he’ll get pleasure from this, come again subsequent 12 months after which begin the method once more. He’ll be final one leaving coaching. His kicking sport final Sunday determined the match. He received that many repeat units and put it into the corners so many instances; he’s labored so exhausting at that for thus lengthy. It was superior to see.”
Nonetheless on Maloney, it stays to be seen if Mitchell Pearce replaces him on the French membership, regardless of having a 12 months to run on his deal at Newcastle. Coach Steve McNamara labored with Pearce whereas he was an assistant on the Roosters. He and Maloney consider the No.7 can be completely suited to the Tremendous League and the attacking model of soccer.
Sports activities information, outcomes and professional commentary. Join our Sport e-newsletter.