'Still the pinnacle': Isaah Yeo honoured to wear Australian jersey for the Ashes as Penrith teammate misses first session
The pinnacle event in rugby league has been an ongoing debate in recent months, but Isaah Yeo insists that the green and gold jersey still holds the top title.
A growing list of players defecting from Australia to Pacific Island nations raised questions about the international tier system in recent years, with many of those choosing to switch allegiance still eligible to compete in the State of Origin arena.
The ongoing movement has caused some alarm, with Andrew Johns admitting that he no longer feels that representing Australia is the pinnacle of rugby league.
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Instead, the eighth Immortal feels that State of Origin has taken over that title.
"In years gone by until probably the early '90s, (representing) Australia was above playing Origin," he said on Nine's Freddy and the Eighth in July.
"I think winning a State of Origin series three-nil would be above winning an Ashes series three-nil (to today's players)."
Payne Haas is one of the many players who have defected to Pacific Island nations, with his move to Samoa coming weeks out from Australia's looming Ashes series.
Haas, a 2025 premiership winner, will instead represent Samoa in the Pacific Championships, which begin on Saturday in Port Moresby.
Watch the 2025 Pacific Championships live and free on Nine and 9Now.
Due to the Ashes series, Australia will not be defending their title.
"It is still the pinnacle," Yeo told reporters in England.
"The excitement around representing your country (in the Ashes) across the other side of the world in something that hasn't been around for 20-odd years.
"I think putting on the training gear for the first time round, especially for the debutants is exciting as well as the senior players.
"You'd be crazy not to be excited by it. I am really looking forward to it."
Isaah Yeo speaks with Nine's Danny Weidler after a training session in Twickenham. Nine
The Kangaroos wasted no time getting back into the rhythm of things as they took to the field in Twickenham just 24 hours after landing in England.
But one key star was a notable absence in the session.
"(Lindsay Smith) just got married," Yeo told 9News Sydney.
"I think he has an early flight from Sydney in the morning.
"It has been an unreal couple of weeks for him. I'm stoked for him ... I'm very happy for the couple.
"It was nice to have a hit out, to be fair," the four-time premiership winner continued.
"Just to move around, connect ... we had 24 hours on the flight.
"I'm just looking forward to the week ahead, it is a bit of a light job at the moment. We'll be able to ramp it up a bit over the next couple of days."
