Andrew Johns has made the astonishing claim that Penrith lock Isaah Yeo is the most influential player in the NRL.
It comes as Yeo sits atop the Dally M votes leaderboard after 10 rounds, two votes ahead of Melbourne fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses.
Yeo is gunning to become the first forward to win the Dally M Medal since Jason Taumalolo in 2016, and only the fifth forward in history to wear the honour.
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Fellow locks Steve Rogers and Ray Price won the Dally M Medal in 1981 and 1982 respectively, while Gavin Morris won it twice in 1988-89.
“I think he will win it. I think he’s the most influential player in the comp,” Johns told Wide World of Sports’ Freddy and the Eighth.
“He’s even more influential in this team than Nathan Cleary.”
Yeo is 183 games into his NRL career and has a premiership under his belt, as well as representing New South Wales in the last five State of Origin games.
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But Johns says the Panthers star has gone to another level in 2022.
“I think he is getting better and better every year. The way he ball-plays… watch him play, the way he links (his team).
“He links his halves to the edges. Then in the middle of the field, between the 40-metre marks, watch the work he does with his middle forwards, the way he gets them changing angles, getting one-on-one.
“He keeps getting better and better and better.
“Isaah Yeo will win (the medal), if he stays injury free he will win it this year.”
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