Penrith’s most-improved have credited NRL bubble boredom for allowing them time to do extras at training this year, but Isaah Yeo is a straight-shooter.
There’s been a bit of that, he says, but a lot of mucking around too.
“That’s got something to do with it, but we got a basketball hoop too so everyone seems to be shooting a little bit better,” he joked.
“Practice does make perfect apparently.”
Whether Moses Letoa is among the sharpest shooters is unknown, but he is spending double the time doing video and extra work with coaches in 2020.
And as a result, his performance numbers have doubled too.
This season Leota has almost doubled his average post-contact and running metres from 2019, and cut in half his missed tackles from 47 to just 21 in 21 games.
“I’m staying back at training because there’s nothing else to do,” he said.
“Watching a bit of video and doing one-on-one sessions with the coaches.
“I’m doing heaps more.
“I was doing extras last year but the quality wasn’t as good. I think winning helps.”
The 25-year-old has been a solid bench forward at the Panthers for the past three years but his consistency has gone to a new level and landed him in NSW Origin contention.
The softly-spoken prop has always been one of the hardest workers in the side, but Yeo has seen a significant change in him this season.
“He’s been outstanding for us coming off the bench. His impact has been phenomenal and he’s being talked about for Origin now so it goes to show how good his form has been,” he said.
Leota is close with pack leaders James Fisher-Harris and Zane Tetevano, who are two of the most professional players in the squad.
Now, Yeo says, so is Leota.
“You could never question his work ethic coming all the way from 20s into grade,” he said of Leota.
“He worked his bum off in 20s and he wouldn’t have had a minute to scratch himself during that period.
“He’s gotten better and better each year.
“He hangs around James Fisher-Harris and Zane Tetevano, who are very professional and you don’t see many people work harder than those two.
“They bring along a few players like that and Moses is becoming one of those players, if not following them, being one of those players who people are following.”