Penrith captain Isaah Yeo is predicting an intense defensive battle in tonight’s NRL blockbuster against the Canterbury Bulldogs, who haven’t defeated the Panthers in six years.
Speaking to NRL.com Yeo also declared his team’s familiarity with former Panthers assistant coach, Cameron Ciraldo, holds the key to unlocking the Bulldogs’ league-leading defence.
“We’re pretty similar defensively,” Yeo said.
“They work hard, they complete really well and they’ve got a style where they back their defence.”
“They’re not the biggest pack, but they’re fit and really physical,” Yeo continued, noting the impact of former Panthers premiership team-mate, Viliame Kikau.
“He’s one of the best back-rowers in the competition and defensively he’s really good in their system.”
Yeo and the Panthers go into tonight’s match at CommBank Stadium looking to build on the club’s stirring Round 16 away victory over the Warriors—achieved without all five of their NSW Origin stars—and extend a seven-game winning streak against the Bulldogs, dating all the way back to August 2019.
“We haven’t had our best performances,” Yeo admitted of a 2025 season that saw the Panthers languishing in last place on the NRL ladder at the start of May.
“But we’ve been gritty and resilient.
“We have to do that (again) this week, we’re going to be in it for the whole 80 minutes and that's a challenge we're looking forward to.”
Penrith coach Ivan Cleary declared his team had ‘turned the corner’ after last weekend's understrength win in New Zealand.
Tonight provides the perfect litmus test to see if he’s right, as the four-time premiers seek to continue their surge towards the 2025 NRL finals.