Isaah Yeo Reflects on Tough Kiwi Loss: "We Just Didn't Turn Up"
Man, that was a rough one. Isaah Yeo, the Penrith Panthers' rock-solid back-rower, didn't mince words after their crushing defeat to the New Zealand Warriors. The Panthers, fresh off a dominant season, looked completely out of sorts, and Yeo was as baffled as anyone.
"We just didn't turn up," he admitted, his voice laced with disappointment. "It's not like us to play like that, especially against a side like the Warriors. We had a lot of errors, missed tackles, and just weren't on the same page. Credit to them, they came out firing and capitalized on our mistakes."
The Panthers, known for their relentless attack and suffocating defense, were off their game from the get-go. Their usually watertight defense was leaky, and their attack lacked the precision and flair that had become their hallmark.
"It's a tough loss to swallow, especially after how we finished last year," Yeo said, his face etched with frustration. "But we've got to bounce back. We've got a lot of football left to play, and we're not going to let one bad game derail our season."
The loss, however, was a stark reminder that even the best teams can have off days. The Panthers have a long and arduous season ahead of them, and they'll need to learn from this defeat and ensure it doesn't become a recurring theme.
"We'll go back to the drawing board, work hard, and come back stronger," Yeo declared, his voice now resolute. "We've got a tough team here, and we're determined to prove that this was just a blip."
The Panthers will be looking to bounce back next week, but the tough loss to the Warriors will surely serve as a wake-up call. It's a reminder that in the unpredictable world of rugby league, even the most dominant teams can stumble.