WHEN Isaah Yeo won a premiership with Penrith’s Holden Cup squad last year it certainly went down as one of the highlights of his young career, but 2014 has brought with it even bigger things for the Dubbo product.

The St John’s College graduate had anticipated more games for the Panthers’ under 20s squad and starts in the NSW Cup. But tomorrow when Penrith run out onto Carrington Park to take on NRL rivals the Cronulla Sharks, Yeo will have the number 12 jumper on his back.

He will form part of a youthful back row, lining up alongside Bryce Cartwright.

“I thought I would be playing mostly 20s and NSW Cup this year,” he said. “On a personal note I have achieved a lot more than I thought I would, obviously I am really excited about it all,” Yeo said.

Yeo comes from a strong footballing family, his father Justin having played for Balmain and North Sydney as well as skippering Dubbo CYMS to four straight Group 11 premierships between 2001-04.

His uncle Gerard, who played for the Coogee Dolphins, was killed in the Bali bombings in 2002.

But now Isaah Yeo is making his own name. Contracted to the Panthers to 2016, he is fast becoming one of their most exciting young prospects.

At the start of the year Yeo was given a massive confident boost when he was included in the Panthers squad to contest the Auckland Nines.

He gained further recognition when representing the NSW Residents side, scoring a try in their 24-16 loss to Queensland at Suncorp Stadium earlier this month. Yeo played centre in that match, but prefers the second row role he will fill against the Sharks.

He is hoping his family and friends from Dubbo will be at Carrington Park to cheer him on.

“As a junior I was a centre, but I actually prefer the back row role,” he said. 

“Honestly it doesn’t worry me where I play in first grade, I am just happy to be given a crack.

“It should be a good day ... I think it is a great initiative of rugby league for Panthers to take a game out to the country and one being so close to Dubbo.

“I am not real social so I don’t know about many friends, but I have got a pretty big family, so hopefully a lot of them will come out.”

The action begins at 10.40am tomorrow with the  National Youth Cup match. 

The NSW Cup fixture is set for 12.40pm and main game 3pm.