“I feel like we’ve still got the capabilities and the lessons we’ve learned this year that we can carry on forward. Obviously, it stings, but I don’t think there’s that much turnover in the year.
“There’s been a lot in previous years. Not so much this year, just lessons learned, so that’s exciting for the future.
“We’ve had a lot of young players this season with a lot of experience now in big games and hostile environments.
“I think come next year we’ll get a look at those. The lessons learned will be really good for us. But in saying that, there’s a lot of time between now and then.”
While Penrith may have fielded stronger squads in previous seasons, Yeo said the “connection” between teammates this year was the best he had known.
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was also adamant Sunday’s defeat was not an era-ending setback.
“What’s over?” Cleary asked with a wry smile. “I’d like to think there’s more in us.
The Panthers upon realising their dream of a fifth-straight title was over.Credit: Getty Images
“Obviously, we’re not going to win it this year, but we definitely showed a fair bit to fight back from a poor start [to the season].
“There’s probably some lessons in there, but ultimately we were just not quite good enough this year.
“But I feel like we got some real strides with some young guys this year. The core of our team is still going to be there next year.
“Hopefully they use this feeling, which we haven’t had for a while, to spur us on into next year.”
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Champion playmaker Nathan Cleary said getting knocked out in the finals was a “horrible feeling”.
“I just haven’t felt that in a while, so I definitely don’t want this feeling again … going into the off-season now, it’s like an opportunity to grow even more and come back stronger,” he said.
“I’m excited for the future.”
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