Sunday night's grand final defeat was a shattering one for Isaah Yeo and his Panthers teammates but there was still a reward for the St John's junior's outstanding season. Yeo was again one of Penrith's best in the 26-20 defeat to the Melbourne Storm on Sunday night and it was because of that type of consistent performance he was named in the NSW Origin squad post-match. Blues coach Brad Fittler filled the final seven spots in his extended 25-man squad with players from the grand final and Yeo was one of four Panthers chosen. Five-eighth Jarome Luai was a bolter while Nathan Cleary and Stephen Crichton were also selected alongside Yeo. Speaking on Nine's post-game show, Fittler stated it was Yeo's performances in the high pressure environment of finals football in recent weeks which clinched his spot in the squad. The former Western Ram was firmly in the running for a spot prior to finals having been one of the Panthers' standouts in a season which included 17 straight victories. Yeo was also named the NRL's Lock of the Year at last week's Dally M awards night. He and his fellow Panthers will now have to shrug off the disappointment of Sunday night and work to impress Fittler in Blues training this week. The coach said on Sunday night he already had an idea of the final 17 he wanted to choose for game one of this year's series at Adelaide on November 4. Yeo is one of a number of middle forwards in the squad alongside Boyd Corder, Jake Trbojevic, Cameron Murray, Tyson Frizell, Angus Crichton, Dale Finucane, and Nathan Brown. Yeo is also one of two Western Rams products in the Blues squad alongside Orange junior and Dally M Medal winner Jack Wighton.
LOCKED IN: Isaah Yeo was one of four Penrith Panthers added to the NSW Blues squad on Sunday. Photo: PENRITH PANTHERS
Sunday night's grand final defeat was a shattering one for Isaah Yeo and his Panthers teammates but there was still a reward for the St John's junior's outstanding season.
Yeo was again one of Penrith's best in the 26-20 defeat to the Melbourne Storm on Sunday night and it was because of that type of consistent performance he was named in the NSW Origin squad post-match.
Blues coach Brad Fittler filled the final seven spots in his extended 25-man squad with players from the grand final and Yeo was one of four Panthers chosen.
Five-eighth Jarome Luai was a bolter while Nathan Cleary and Stephen Crichton were also selected alongside Yeo.
Speaking on Nine's post-game show, Fittler stated it was Yeo's performances in the high pressure environment of finals football in recent weeks which clinched his spot in the squad.
The former Western Ram was firmly in the running for a spot prior to finals having been one of the Panthers' standouts in a season which included 17 straight victories.
They're obviously just not ready yet.
Ivan Cleary on his Panthers
Yeo was also named the NRL's Lock of the Year at last week's Dally M awards night.
He and his fellow Panthers will now have to shrug off the disappointment of Sunday night and work to impress Fittler in Blues training this week.
The coach said on Sunday night he already had an idea of the final 17 he wanted to choose for game one of this year's series at Adelaide on November 4.
Yeo is one of a number of middle forwards in the squad alongside Boyd Corder, Jake Trbojevic, Cameron Murray, Tyson Frizell, Angus Crichton, Dale Finucane, and Nathan Brown.
