![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/df2f67145a5f2c01eb27b7bcdcc92750070bc556.jpeg\")
<\/p>\n\u201cI feel like we\u2019ve still got the capabilities and the lessons we\u2019ve learned this year that we can carry on forward. Obviously, it stings, but I don\u2019t think there\u2019s that much turnover in the year.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s been a lot in previous years. Not so much this year, just lessons learned, so that\u2019s exciting for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve had a lot of young players this season with a lot of experience now in big games and hostile environments.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think come next year we\u2019ll get a look at those. The lessons learned will be really good for us. But in saying that, there\u2019s a lot of time between now and then.\u201d<\/p>\n
While Penrith may have fielded stronger squads in previous seasons, Yeo said the \u201cconnection\u201d between teammates this year was the best he had known.<\/p>\n
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary was also adamant Sunday\u2019s defeat was not an era-ending setback.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat\u2019s over?\u201d Cleary asked with a wry smile. \u201cI\u2019d like to think there\u2019s more in us.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The Panthers upon realising their dream of a fifth-straight title was over.Credit: Getty Images<\/p>\n
\u201cObviously, we\u2019re not going to win it this year, but we definitely showed a fair bit to fight back from a poor start [to the season].<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s probably some lessons in there, but ultimately we were just not quite good enough this year.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut 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.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully they use this feeling, which we haven\u2019t had for a while, to spur us on into next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Champion playmaker Nathan Cleary said getting knocked out in the finals was a \u201chorrible feeling\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just haven\u2019t felt that in a while, so I definitely don\u2019t want this feeling again \u2026 going into the off-season now, it\u2019s like an opportunity to grow even more and come back stronger,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m excited for the future.\u201d<\/p>\n
Win one of 10 double passes to the 2025 NRL grand final. Click here for details<\/a> and to enter the competition, exclusive to Sydney Morning Herald subscribers.<\/p>\n