Brian To’o plays his 150th NRL game on Saturday. Photo: NRL Photos.
Family is important to every football player but for people like Brian To’o, it is everything.
With his contract expiring at Penrith at the end of next season and talk of a move to the Chiefs in PNG doing the rounds, family is who To’o will turn to when making one of the biggest decisions of his life.
“There’s a lot of thought process that goes into it, especially with family,” To’o told the Weekender.
“Family is a big one for me. I’ve got two kids now and a wife. The whole process is definitely going to be pretty crazy because it’s not just my little family, it’s our own families as well.”
Brian To’o with his mother after Origin. Photo: NRL Photos.
To’o is going to be hot property if he hits the open market on November 1, with numerous clubs both here and overseas set to chase his signature.
Just what he’ll do is anyone’s guess with not even To’o knowing where his head is at right now in terms of his long-term playing future.
“I don’t really like to think too far ahead. I like to stay in the present moment. Whatever happens, happens,” the 27-year-old said.
“I still have a job, and all that contract stuff will come eventually. When the time comes, we’ll have a chat about it, but as for now I’ve got to focus on the games ahead and the Finals as well.”
Brian To’o chats with Nathan Taylor. Photo: NRL Photos.
After a sensational rookie season in 2019, To’o will celebrate 150 NRL games this Saturday night when the Panthers battle the Canberra Raiders in Mudgee.
It’s been an unbelievable ride for the Coke Zero fanatic that’s seen him win four NRL premierships and counting. The St Marys junior is also on the cusp of reaching a century of tries and doing it during his 150th match will be extra special.
“It would be pretty cool to have my last name up there on the honour roll, up there with all the other great players,” To’o said, who’s planning a Spider-man try celebration if he scores on the Glen Willow Oval turf on Saturday.
“It would be pretty cool to reach 100 tries, especially for the brothers. They’ve done so much for me and it’s always good to give back to them as well.”
Brian To’o with his parents. Photo: NRL Photos.
To’o is the ultimate teammate and that couldn’t have been more evident than recently when he handled his axing from Laurie Daley’s NSW Blues side for Origin III with class and professionalism.
To’o said he was “all for” the decision that saw Dolphin Jack Bostock take his spot.
“The team always comes first for me, whatever is best for the team,” he said.
“I put my heart and soul into that and just to see the boys lift up that trophy and bring it home, it definitely meant the world to me.”
And To’o said he has no ill feelings towards Daley too, declaring he would love to earn his spot back next year.
Panthers winger Brian To’o. Photo: NRL Photos.
“I’ll obviously be back and I definitely want to earn the right to be back as well,” he said.
“I’ve just got to keep working hard at club level and hopefully I can earn my spot again.”
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender’s Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.