Penrith Panthers premiership celebrations: Isaah Yeo wins Player of the Year at presentation night

Penrith players ditched the party attire for suits and ties for their end-of-season presentation night, where co-captain Isaah Yeo took top honours. See the full awards plus the best photos from the evening.

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Penrith players finally emerged from their two-day lockdown as their NRL premiership party switched to formal mode.

The Panthers ditched their sunglasses and shorts for suits and ties for their end-of-year presentation on Tuesday night.

They had spent the past 48 hours under a makeshift marquee, behind the privacy of blacked-out fencing at their Rugby League Academy, as they celebrated Sunday night’s 14-6 grand final win over Melbourne at Accor Stadium.

Panthers players stepped out in style, moving the party 400m around the corner to the nearby Pullman Hotel, for what was the club’s first official event since their historic victory 48 hours ago.

The western Sydney rugby league heroes were in high spirits as they hit the red carpet for the Merv Cartwirght Medal at 6pm.

The night belonged to co-captain Isaah Yeo, who was crowned Penrith’s Player of the Year, receiving the Merv Cartwright medal for the second year in a row and the third time overall.

Isaah Yeo received the Merv Cartwright medal for Penrith’s Player of the Year. Picture: NRL Photos/Grant Trouville

Yeo, who is now Penrith’s most capped player, was also rewarded on Monday with the Australian Kangaroos captaincy for this month’s Pacific Championships.

Tenacious hooker Mitch Kenny received the John Farragher award, which recognised courage and determination. The hard working dummy-half made a season high 46 tackles during Sunday’s grand final.

Rising prop Liam Henry, who is viewed as the future of Penrith’s forward pack, received the Ben Alexander Rookie of the Year award after an impressive season, having cemented his spot in the NRL side in 2024.

Three more award winners, none more deserving ❤️#pantherpride 🐾 pic.twitter.com/ZCXNrFjoFP

— Penrith Panthers 🏆🏆🏆🏆 (@PenrithPanthers) October 8, 2024

Dubbed the unluckiest player in Penrith, Matt Eisenhuth, who has missed selection in all four grand finals, was recognised as Panthers Club Player of the Year. The award celebrates individuals who help to enrich the club’s culture by “going above and beyond.”

Highly regarded local product Isaiah Iongi, who is defecting to arch rivals Parramatta in 2025, was crowned the NSW Cup Player of the Year.

Premiership-winning halves Jarome Luai and Nathan Cleary. Picture: Jonathan Ng

As well as celebrating individual brilliance on the field, the night was a chance for the club to formally farewell departing superstars Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris.

And if there was to be an award for outfits of the night, it would likely go to blockbusting winger Brian To’o and his wife Moesha who stole the show in a matching purple ensemble, which paid homage to their Samoan heritage.

Brian To'o and Moesha To'o. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Dylan Edwards and Nadine Haggart. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Scott Sorensen and Elle Shelbourne. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Jarome Luai and Bailey Toleafoa. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Liam Martin and Chelsea Leary. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Ivan and Rebecca Cleary. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Matt and Holly Eisenhuth. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Liam Henry and partner Sophie Cheney. Picture: Jonathan Ng

At the Panthers’ presentation, back-rower Liam Martin revealed why he momentarily choked up on stage at Accor Stadium while accepting the Clive Churchill Medal for the best player on the ground on grand final night.

“I think just when I was walking up on stage, the enormity of it. Never in my wildest dreams would have thought I would be winning that sort of prize,” Martin said.

“It nearly got me there for a bit, but I had to pull it back.

“It was a really special moment.”

Liam Martin had an emotional acceptance speech for his Clive Churchill Medal. Picture: Quinn Rooney/Getty Images

Martin was all smiles celebrating on the field with the medal around his neck, but it didn’t stay there long, with grand final celebrations looming.

“I didn’t trust myself. My partner came and saw me and I sent it home with her,” Martin said, giving a small insight into the Panthers’ two-day post-match celebrations.

“It was a good few days celebrating with the boys.

“I was a bit dusty this morning but looking forward to getting out with the fans (on Wednesday).

“It’s a really good day. They always turn out for us and that’s why we do it, for the community.”

The next phase of marking their fourth-straight premiership success will come on Wednesday morning when they hold a Premiers Celebration as part of a massive fan day planned for Penrith Leagues Club.

Despite being made to wait, thousands of fans are expected to turn out to celebrate with their heroes for a fourth-straight year.

Already, a steady stream of adoring fans have made their way to the club’s training facility over the last two days in the hope of getting a glimpse of the NRL superstars.

Players had spent Monday afternoon on a private cruise on the Hawkesbury-Nepean river to continue their premiership party less than 24 hours after Sunday’s night grand final win.

The Panthers enjoyed a Nepean River cruise ahead of tonight’s festivities.

Like much of Penrith’s celebrations so far, the cruise was a low key affair and a chance for players to unwind after partying into the early hours on Monday morning.

Best friends and soon to be former teammates Brian To’o and Wests Tigers bound Luai have already turned their attention to the duo’s new clothing label, Universe 7.

The stars are offering a commemorative T-shirt with the theme ‘The Champions League’, that will only be available to purchase online for 48 hours.

The limited edition T-shirt also features the tagline “established in the struggle”.

“The tee isn’t just a celebration of our record, it’s a tribute to the heart’s determination and legacy of our team and brotherhood,” a post on Universe 7’s Instagram page said.

To’o told this masthead the business minded mates would still be working closely together to build the clothing brand, which launched in June, even though Luai is heading for Concord in 2025.

“We’ve been working on the clothing label all year. Even though Romy (Luai) is going, we still want to grow the business and it’s something that we are both looking to do after footy, being entrepreneurs,” To’o said.

“Hopefully, we can do something good for the brand and it up and us into the future as well.”

This Panthers dynasty joins elite company, becoming just the third team in Australian rugby league history to win four or more premierships in a row.

It hasn’t been achieved since the great St George side that won 11 straight premierships from 1956-1966, and before that, the South Sydney side that won five in a row from 1925-1929.

Penrith are also being recognised on the international stage.

Eleven Panthers have already been selected in Australian, New Zealand and Tongan squads for end-of-year international Tests, with the club bracing for that number to grow to as many as 20 when the Samoa, Papua New Guinea and Cook Island squads are named.