Dad’s impact amajor influence on Pathers’ Yeo
PENRITH lock Isaah Yeo remembers very little of his childhood idol playing in the NRL.
And to be fair, his hero did only play 11 games when Yeo was aged just three and four.
The videos of his father Justin, however, are forever etched into the 25-year-old’s mind.
A North Sydney and Balmain centre after the Super League war, Justin Yeo represents the senior figure of the forgotten father-son NRL combination at the Panthers.
‘‘Growing up he was my idol,’’ Isaah said. ‘‘They used to have old VCR tapes of him playing for Parramatta Marist, North Sydney Bears and Balmain Tigers.
‘‘He did have a big influence. We were very young, he had me when he was 17 or 18 and so did mum. He is my father and we’re best mates as well. We’ve got that relationship which is nice.’’
What’s clear watching Isaah is that the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. His father was a winner. He claimed six premierships on returning to Dubbo CYMS after his NRL career, including three as captain-coach.
Isaah also praises his defence, fitting given that he has proved one of the Panthers’ most reliable in the middle this year and is a chance for a NSW jersey.
And while Justin tried to turn him into a five-eighth as a youngster, the No 13 does thank him for some of his ball skills.
‘‘I was fortunate enough to go watch him and be a ball boy on the Sundays when he was playing at Dubbo CYMS,’’ Yeo said.
‘‘He was a level above. Particularly when he first came back. They’re things I think about and look back on. That was probably a driving force as a youngster playing football. I was