LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
South Sydney has received a mix of news ahead of their Thursday night matchup against the injury-stricken Dragons. Notably, Latrell Mitchell has been ruled out again, while one of their stars is set to make a comeback. Simultaneously, the situation surrounding Panthers' star Isaah Yeo's shoulder injury has become more uncertain, as he has been named on the extended bench for their crucial clash against the NRL ladder-leaders, Canberra, on Friday night.
Yeo has been sidelined since injuring his shoulder during the round 22 victory over Gold Coast. The Penrith club has kept details about his injury closely guarded. Coach Ivan Cleary previously indicated that Yeo had not completely dislocated his right shoulder but acknowledged uncertainty regarding the severity of the injury and his expected return timeline.
However, Yeo has shared optimism over the weekend about potentially returning for the important game against the Raiders, which Penrith believes they must win to sustain their top-four aspirations. "I'm a chance of playing, I think. My shoulder's coming along well," Yeo stated on Fox League.
He added, "These are the games you want to be playing at the moment. We've got a really tough run at the moment, which is good for us leading into the finals. They're the ones you want to be out there for. I'm trying to get out there."
For Penrith, securing a victory against the Raiders is crucial to maintaining their position in the top-four race. They suffered a controversial golden point loss to Melbourne in the previous round, which dropped them to fifth place on the ladder-just one point behind the fourth-placed Warriors, who are favored to win against the struggling Titans this weekend.
Throughout Penrith's impressive dynasty, Yeo has rarely missed games, with exceptions mainly due to Origin commitments or rest after representative matches. His presence on the extended bench signals a strong possibility of his return as the season's end approaches.
If Yeo proves his fitness for the significant match against Canberra in Mudgee, veteran forward Matt Eisenhuth is likely to be the one removed from Penrith's 17-man roster to make space for him. Meanwhile, Raiders coach Ricky Stuart is expected to retain the same lineup that triumphed over Manly in round 23 and will be counting on the rejuvenating effects of their recent bye as they aim for the minor premiership.