Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has likened inspirational co-captain Isaah Yeo to an octopus after the representative star defied medical science to return just four weeks after suffering a ruptured pectoral muscle.

While it takes an octopus roughly 130 days to completely regrow one of its eight arms, it took Yeo just 30 to get back on the field after leaving the game in Auckland on August 7 to an injury that should have ended his season.

Ruptures generally require surgery that sidelines players for months, but the four-time premiership winner is a medical marvel after he returned on Sunday and played 54 minutes off the bench without missing a tackle.

Yeo will now start at lock against the Roosters in Sunday’s qualifying final.

“I think he’s maybe like an octopus. Can they lose an arm and just carry on? It’s pretty incredible what he’s been able to do,” Cleary told the NewsWire.

“It says a lot about his courage but also how process driven he is. He took in all the information when the scan came back and listened to the physios and the doctors and took it all in.

“He’s just taken it one day at a time and has continually got more confident. Considering everything he’d done in training, the biggest test was a game, and he came through the game on Sunday really well.

“It’s extraordinary mental skill and resilience.”

Yeo’s recovery is testament to Penrith’s high performance team, which has a proven record of getting players fit at the right time of the year.

You occasionally see a player suffer a soft tissue injury during a game, but it never happens at training like at some clubs who can’t take a trick.

“Our high performance program is a good one,” Cleary said.

“We put a lot of time and effort into it led by Tom Lovell, who is our head of performance. Our medical department are all part of that.

“We put a lot of emphasis on making sure we get our talent to play as many games as possible. Part of that is definitely luck, but the number of conversations on a daily basis on so many different things is completely different to when I started.

“You can’t stop them all, but they do a great job.

“Kudos to the players as well because they have created a culture where they don’t give in to anything. If they can find a way around an injury (then they will) because at this time of year, everyone is carrying certain things.”

The finals are an important time for Cleary on and off the field, with the legendary coach teaming up with DrinkWise for the second year in a row to promote their Always respect, always DrinkWise campaign.

Cleary has a simple yet important message to fans who should moderate their alcohol consumption this finals series and show respect to everyone around them.

“I’m very, very proud to be back with DrinkWise. I think it’s a great message for everyone,” he said.

“Our game relies on fans and even more so in finals because the energy goes up with the passion, the tribalism and all that stuff.

“I think it’s important that all those fans get a good experience. That means that if you want to have a drink, it’s important that it’s done in moderation and respectfully for those around you so everyone comes away with a great experience.”

Originally published as ‘Like an octopus’: Ivan Cleary explains superstar’s ‘extraordinary’ recovery from injury as the master coach sends an important message to fans