According to reports, the Panthers are the first club to win the championship since the 1960s.

 

That helps us out knowing we are getting every team’s best and that hardens us as well. You want to go after every game.

“We are not going to be sitting there as prey.”

 

Regardless of which players they have lost to other clubs since their reign began, or the very occasional games they have lost, the Panthers continue to set the standard by which all NRL sides are measured.

 

They go into the new season without champion centre Stephen Crichton, bench powerhouse Spencer Leniu and back-up playmaker Jack Cogger, but Yeo is adamant the structures they have put in place during the past five years will again serve them well.

“We have confidence in our ability and confidence in our training – we feel like we’re a group that trains really hard and that shows with how our game style is,” Yeo said.

When there’s a grind we feel like that’s where we excel as a group

 Panthers co-captain Isaah Yeo

 

“It’s the nature of the NRL that we are going to lose some players but we have a lot of trust in the young boys coming through.

“You can’t replace ‘Critta’ [Crichton] like for like but someone will come in and do a wonderful job for us.