"Once he gives me that look, I just calm down.”
That is how Westpac NSW Blues front rower Spencer Leniu describes the effect of Origin teammate and Penrith Panthers stalwart and captain Isaah Yeo.
A self-confessed “hot head” Leniu cherishes the years he played with Yeo at Penrith – including three NRL premierships – before moving to the Sydney Roosters in 2024.
Now the pair are reunited in the Blues pack for the deciding Ampol State of Origin series this year at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday (17 July).
“I’ve had Yeoy as my captain the last four years,” Leniu said.
“There’s something about Yeoy. Once he sort of gives me that look I just calm down.
“I’m just grateful he’s by my side again.
“He’s someone you don’t want to let down – you go into war with him.”
Fellow back rower Angus Crichton also has a deep appreciation of Yeo’s off-and-on-field presence.
“He’s sort of an older ‘dad’ to all the boys … he’s a calm head,” Crichton said.
“He keeps everyone calm. When he talks everyone listens as he’s always got clear messaging.
“He’s what the team needs with a lot of young guys full of energy and full of beans.
“Yeoy tends to control that, which is good.”
Yeo will be playing his 15th Origin match this week, after making his debut in Game Two 2020.
Leniu wasn’t as keen as Crichton to describe the 29-year-old as like a dad around the players.
“Not a father figure but just his role as the captain, he’s just done so much for Penrith," Leniu said.
“I got to see a lot of the background work he does.
“You just don’t want to let people like that down.”
