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Star Panthers duo provide timely boost ahead of NRL Finals
George Clarke, AAP •  September 7th, 2026 7:59 am
Isaah Yeo has played 283 NRL games for Penrith, having debuted way back in 2014 | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
Penrith wrapped up the NRL's minor premiership on Sunday but arguably the biggest win they had was the successful returns of two key men as they look to make a charge towards their fifth title in six seasons.
Lock Isaah Yeo punched out close to an hour of NRL action after there were fears his season would be over a month ago when he reeled out of a challenge with a pec injury in a loss to the Warriors.
The Panthers resisted the urge to send their co-captain for surgery and after four weeks of rehabilitation, Yeo emerged through their final-round 38-10 win over Wests Tigers unscathed.
Along with Yeo's return, hooker Mitch Kenny completed more than 50 minutes of work in the middle as he made his comeback ahead of a qualifying final clash with the Sydney Roosters on Sunday.
"It's the calm head, Yeoey, his leadership's second to none," said halfback Nathan Cleary when asked how the pair's returns would help his game in the finals series.
"I think both him and Mitch coming back, they add a bit of that experience and leadership and that's not to take anything away from both Freddie (Lussick) and Lindsay (Smith) ... but they just bring a calm head and know what's needed in the right moments."
Kenny - one of Penrith's most underrated stars - suffered a fractured fibula and syndesmosis in his left leg back in April as a result of a hip-drop tackle.
It was instantly noticeable the zip the Panthers displayed with the no-nonsense dummy-half back on deck.
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"Mitch has this uncanny ability to know where the ball needs to go at the right times," said Cleary.
"Just having him back in training over the last two or three weeks, it's unbelievable that he's able to just slip back in as seamlessly as he did after 20 weeks out. Not many people can do that."
It was not lost on Cleary's father and coach Ivan that the Panthers clinched this year's minor premiership while having spent the past two seasons playing out of CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.
Penrith's homeground at the foot of the mountains - often cited by rival players as one of the hardest places to go during their four-peat - has been undergoing renovations.
"When this place (CommBank) is full, it's a great stadium," coach Cleary said.
"It had a bit of that finals feeling in the air so here's hoping next Sunday we can fill it right up and put on a pretty good show.
"You want that sort of finals atmosphere and we're hoping we can get it."
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