3 minute read

Isaah Yeo has revealed he was unaware of his appointment as Australian captain until tuning in to Mal Meninga's press conference while at home ironing.

Penrith lock Isaah Yeo was at home ironing when he learned via the media that he had been named Australia's new captain.

But Liam Martin will be unable to celebrate the appointment with his Panthers teammate after withdrawing from the Kangaroos squad for the Pacific Championships through injury.

AAP understands shoulder and rib issues will prevent the newly minted Clive Churchill Medal winner from joining camp ahead of the series opener against Tonga on October 21.

Living up to his reputation as the Panthers' captain sensible, Yeo took a break from celebrations for Penrith's fourth consecutive premiership early on Monday afternoon to iron a shirt for the club awards night.

Only then did it dawn on the 29-year-old to check whether he had been selected for the post-season Pacific Championships, having not heard from coach Meninga.

"I was deadset ironing a shirt, getting ready for our festivities and I thought, 'I wonder if they've named the team yet', and it popped up that the press conference was on. I saw it then (that I was captain)," Yeo said.

"Representing your country is to me the epitome of the game. It's everything you want to do as a kid, so to be able to captain your country is very special. I'm over the moon."

Yeo becomes the third Panthers player to captain Australia after club legends Brad Fittler and Craig Gower, and the first since 2005.

The lock understood why Meninga had not reached out to confirm he would assume the captaincy from James Tedesco, left out of the squad altogether as the Kangaroos usher in a new era.

"I'm sure I'll talk to Mal over the next day or two. He's pretty good with that, he sort of lets you, off the back of a win, just sort of celebrate, just be around the group," Yeo said.

"After that, we'll get back into work mode."

Penrith prop Lindsay Smith was the most left-field selection choice in Meninga's squad, but the call-up was met with little surprise at the Panthers following a breakout season for the prop.

"Obviously it's sort of growth in a player from this year to last year," Yeo said.

"You can see he's got so much more confidence and he just brings something that not many other front-rowers do - he's got a wonderful skill-set.

"I still feel like his best footy is in front of him, so to be able to be a part of the Test squad there, it's not a surprise for us, but I'm super stoked for him. He'll do a wonderful job."