AAA<\/p>\n
To underline just how important Isaah Yeo is to this champion Penrith side \u2013 and acknowledge his place in leading rugby league\u2019s great modern-day dynasty \u2013 ask yourself how many points you think he\u2019s worth on the scoreboard.<\/p>\n
When I consider just how influential Yeo is to the Panthers in attack, defence and as a co-captain, I think he translates to eight or even 10 points a game.<\/p>\n
I also don\u2019t think he\u2019ll play again this season, as hard as he\u2019ll try to avoid surgery and rehabilitate his pectoral injury<\/a>. It\u2019s just such a significant injury and the way he reeled out of that tackle last Friday night had me instantly thinking \u201che\u2019s done\u201d.<\/p>\n And if Isaah doesn\u2019t return to the paddock, then Penrith don\u2019t win the premiership in 2026.<\/p>\n He\u2019s the Australia, NSW and Panthers captain, and he\u2019s just that influential.<\/p>\n And what Ivan and Nathan Cleary do without him \u2013 starting with what, I think, will be the game of the season against the high-flying Roosters on Thursday night \u2013 absolutely fascinates me.<\/p>\n Back to the old school: How Nathan Cleary will adapt<\/p>\n Yeo is the best ball-playing lock in the NRL, and an incredibly smart footballer to boot.<\/p>\n His absence is huge and means more minutes for Moses Leota and Liam Henry in the middle. Yeo and injured hooker Mitch Kenny lead Penrith\u2019s line speed, and Yeo is also a fantastic clean-up man: he\u2019s often the guy who falls on a loose ball or fixes up a mistake, with or without the ball.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s in attack where Penrith will miss him most.<\/p>\n Lindsay Smith will slot into the ball-playing link role and has shown promise there. But with the greatest of respect to Lindsay, he\u2019s not in the same class as Yeo \u2013 be it with his pass selection, speed or run threat.<\/p>\n That last aspect makes all the difference with Yeo. The defence has to remain on guard because he\u2019s a threat to the line on his own as a big body capable of getting into half a gap or creating a quick play-the-ball.<\/p>\n And between the halfway line and opposition try line, Yeo is regularly Penrith\u2019s first receiver, freeing up Nathan Cleary to link with Dylan Edwards on their right edge or until the past few weeks, Blaize Talagi on their left.<\/p>\n While Yeo is sidelined, I think we\u2019ll see Cleary play more like the old-school halfback from the 1990s and early 2000s.<\/p>\n Cleary has averaged about 64 touches a game for the past few years as the best No.7 of his generation<\/a>. But interestingly, Yeo\u2019s touches have dropped in recent seasons \u2013 from an average of 35 a game in 2023 to 25 this year.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n I think we\u2019ll see Nathan take on a lot more responsibility without his big No.13. And as an opposition in defence, this puts you on alert \u2013 he is the best player in the game, of course.<\/p>\n But it also means you can target him on both sides of the ball. If I\u2019m the Roosters, I\u2019m really targeting Cleary in defence, racking up his tackles early and building fatigue that could impact his decision-making.<\/p>\n Jack Cogger is Penrith\u2019s best option at five-eighth while Yeo is out injured, though he is in doubt for Thursday night given his wife is due to give birth. Cogger is a natural halfback and when he combines with Cleary in the halves, Nathan often reverts to a more traditional No.6 role with more emphasis on his running game.<\/p>\n You only have to listen to Nathan talk about the famous 2023 grand final<\/a> and how Cogger straightened Penrith\u2019s attack (see the two try-scoring plays below) to know the difference he offers them, and without Yeo, I think the Panthers need that influence more than ever.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Without Yeo, how long can Penrith maintain the rage?<\/p>\n My concern about this champion side is how long it takes for their attack to adjust to life without their No.13, particularly in the next three weeks. Last Friday they went to war against the Warriors<\/a> and were bashed up, travelled back from Auckland and are now on a short turnaround against the Roosters.<\/p>\n Next Thursday they face Melbourne in Melbourne \u2013 with Harry Grant and Cameron Munster back on deck \u2013 before another physical match-up with Canterbury, and then Wests Tigers in the final round.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n With these injuries and a finals campaign that will require at least three massive physical and mental challenges, it\u2019s a two-month run ahead of brutal rugby league, all with their spiritual leader trying to get back on the paddock.<\/p>\n Unfortunately for Penrith, I think it\u2019s an impossible task.<\/p>\n Now or never for the Roosters to end Penrith\u2019s dominance<\/p>\n First things first though, they host the Roosters, who they\u2019ve beaten 12 times in their last 13 clashes.<\/p>\n Again, Yeo has been a huge part of that dominance. And from that monumental winning streak, the Panthers boast a points differential of +229.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, they put on a clinic with a 40-4 thrashing of the Chooks<\/a> and Penrith\u2019s style of play \u2013 focusing on high completion rates, field position, grinding and squeezing the life out of the opposition \u2013 has buckled the Roosters so often.<\/p>\n If Trent Robinson\u2019s side is going to buck that trend though, this is the time to do it.<\/p>\n How Penrith adapt without Yeo is the great unknown, while the Roosters were flat last week against Canterbury, but still found a way to win.<\/p>\n Coming off the 82 points they scored against North Queensland, the Chooks were only a six out of 10 against the Bulldogs, but I have no doubt they already had half an eye on this game.<\/p>\n The loss of James Tedesco as he failed to recover from an ankle injury is huge for them. If Yeo is worth eight to 10 points a game, then I put Teddy\u2019s value at 10 to 12 points for the Roosters.<\/p>\n He\u2019s just so critical to their attack around the ruck and defensive set-ups, but Cody Ramsey brings his own unique running game as a replacement, while Victor Radley emulates Yeo\u2019s linking role when they get attacking ball with the Roosters halves.<\/p>\n Cleary and Sam Walker<\/a> go around again after they lit up this year\u2019s Origin series. You won\u2019t find two more different halfbacks.<\/p>\n That said, I think Nathan is playing with a lot more risk in his game this season \u2013 he\u2019s taking more chances and trying different kicks. Again, it will be fascinating to see how he approaches the contest without Yeo alongside him.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n And as for Walker, well he\u2019s just fascinating, full stop \u2013 he\u2019s the most unpredictable player in the competition and plays without a safety net.<\/p>\n Even with Tedesco out, the Roosters hold the cards in this match. Who\u2019d have thought you could say that when they face the Panthers?<\/p>\n Related Article But Penrith\u2019s travel, the short turnaround, Yeo\u2019s injury and last week\u2019s physical assault from the Warriors have me favouring the Roosters forwards to get on top.<\/p>\n Naufahu Whyte up against Moses Leota will rock CommBank Stadium, with Spencer Leniu and Liam Henry right behind them, while the Tricolours\u2019 young back-rowers Siua Wong and Salesi Foketi are in fantastic form, too.<\/p>\n My surf report has a strong southerly wind whipping in all day and night, which means a dry, fast track come kick-off.<\/p>\n I think it will take 24 points or more to win this game and while the Panthers work out their attack, I doubt they have that in them.<\/p>\n Joey\u2019s tip: Roosters by 12 News, results and expert analysis from the weekend of sport sent every Monday. Sign up for our Sport newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Save<\/p>\n You have reached your maximum number of saved items.<\/p>\n Remove items from your saved list<\/a> to add more.<\/p>\n![\"The](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/537d9ed92cae0c2de791941136d8a56778b1571d.jpeg\")
The missing man: How do Lindsay Smith (left) and Nathan Cleary (centre) change their games without Isaah Yeo?Artwork: Aresna Villanueva<\/p>\n![\"Roosters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/9bb212854f0ac112e0dfcfd50a8c7b633bf96281.jpeg\")
Roosters star James Tedesco was ruled out on Thursday night.Getty Images<\/p>\n![\"Roosters](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/852054c39f632efe7560966d8ddbb7d438872378.jpeg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n
First try-scorer: Mark Nawaqanitawase
Man of the match: Sam Walker<\/p>\n
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