There was a special moment in the sheds at Suncorp Stadium in 2021 after Penrith won the first of their three premierships.
Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu sat there, draped in the Samoan flag, still trying to comprehend how four best mates from western Sydney had won an NRL title together.
Luai and Leniu enjoyed a beer; teetotallers To’o and Crichton were drinking in the emotion.
“That was a special moment,” To’o recalls. “We sat next to each other that night, praying, hoping we could all stick together for a long time and keep doing what we were doing.
“We all realised what a great life we were living, how we were living out our dreams, and how we could hopefully play on the same team forever.”
Come full-time in Sunday night’s NRL grand final against the Storm, To’o will be the last man standing.
Brian To’o grew up with and won premierships with Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu. After Sunday’s grand final, he’ll be the only one left at Penrith.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Crichton and Leniu were offered more money to join Canterbury and the Sydney Roosters at the end of last year. Luai will become the Wests Tigers’ $6 million man in 2025.
For all the spotlight on the grand final against Melbourne being Luai’s last dance, spare a thought for the powerhouse winger who will continue next year without his best buddies out west.
Luai remembers that night in the Suncorp Stadium sheds well. He was still trying to get over the image of To’o giving his partner, Moesha, a lap dance, only moments after proposing to her on the sidelines.
“They were such good memories – those nights you remember forever,” Luai says. “We’re grateful and blessed to have created memories like that, not only for us, but also our families. Our families have grown up together. It’s been a special time.
“But all good things must come to an end some day.
“[Staying together forever] is how everyone views their first NRL club. They want it to be that way. I wanted it to be that way – I wanted to be a one-club man.
Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, Spencer Leniu and Brian To’o (front row right to left) celebrate the 2021 premiership with Tyrone and Terrell May, Izack Tago and and Moses Leota.Credit: NRL Photos
“Life takes you on different journeys and different paths. What we’ve been able to do is form a brotherhood forever.”
To appreciate how close the bond is between the four, Moesha revealed their son’s two middles names include Luai, Crichton and Leniu, as well as a nod to To’o’s favourite Japanese anime series, Dragon Ball Z, and its character Gohan.
Atreus Gohanrome-Stephenny was born late last year.
“He has missed Spencer and Stephen this year, and I know he’ll miss ‘Romy’ [Luai], and ‘Tito’ [Sunia Turuva] and ‘Fish’ [James Fisher-Harris], but he’ll be all right,” Moesha says.
“Everyone underestimates how close the four boys are. A good example is Brian naming our son after the three boys.
“When they played Origin together this year, I know they all looked forward to it. Hopefully they can do it again next year.”
Brian To’o proposes to his partner, Moesha Crichton-Ropati, after the 2021 grand final at Suncorp Stadium.Credit: Getty
After the four players were united in Origin camp, reports surfaced To’o was starting to question if he was truly valued at Penrith and may look to exit Penrith for bigger dollars elsewhere.
At 26, To’o is one of the best wingers in the game – if not the best – and would command north of $750,000 on the open market. He is contracted until the end of 2027, and made it known he was more than happy at his junior club.
Luai was certainly in a jovial mood during Tuesday’s press day at the Panthers’ academy, and kept joking about To’o joining him at the Tigers.
“I want him to come – it will be a three-year deal,” Luai says with a smile. “We’ve got all our journeys. I want him to do what’s best for him and his family, that’s all I want for him.”
To’o said about talk of an exit: “That was banter at first. I love this club very much – God willing, I can stay here for a long time.
“I’m the last one. ‘Romy’ has been that older brother figure to me. He’ll spray me on and off the field, but only because he’s inspiring me to get better. Stephen is younger than me and annoying, but has also played a massive part in my life. And Spencer has been that bodyguard figure. We started first-grade pre-season together, he encouraged me to train hard, but was also the one who protected me.
Jarome Luai celebrates Penrith’s grand final win in 2021 with great mate Brian To’o.Credit: Getty
“We understand all our schedules are quite busy and different now, but when we do meet up, we don’t skip a beat. We’ll always be close.
“I did think we’d finish our careers together playing for the same club. Sunday will be emotional.”
Crichton, who took out the Dally M captain and centre of the year during the week, made a point of being at Accor Stadium last Saturday night to watch his former club and To’o advance to a fifth straight grand final.
TV cameras captured the pair embracing in the stands. To’o will be Crichton’s best man at his wedding in a couple of weeks.
“I’m so happy he’s getting what he deserves,” Crichton says of To’o. “I’m very excited we get to watch him run out for another grand final. I plan to be there, depending on whether there are any tickets left.
“The way he looks after myself and my partner [Leone] and family, he’s basically like a brother to me. I’m hoping he gets another ring.”
Spencer Leniu with his old Panthers crew Stephen Crichton, Brian To’o and Jarome Luai after NSW’s Origin series victory.Credit: NRL Photos
Leone added: “He’s such a character, he’s always making us laugh. He’s always bubbly.”
To’o was troubled by the Storm the last time the two clubs met in round 24. They had a lot of joy targeting his wing in the air, especially in the first half with Xavier Coates and Eli Katoa out-leaping To’o to keep the ball alive.
To’o has held his own against much taller opponents his entire career, and welcomed the challenge and being targeted again by Melbourne.
One of the true big-game players, To’o has gone on the rampage the last three matches, easily running for more than 200m, averaging 20 runs and racking up 25 tackle busts.
Co-captain Isaah Yeo said of To’o’s importance to the Panthers’ sustained golden run: “I don’t think there’s been a better winger in the comp since he started. You can see teams changing now, where they’re trying to have those wingers who come out of yardage who are just strong. Brian is incredible.
“Off the field, he’s got the ability to be that icebreaker; he breaks the tension and never takes anything too seriously. I love playing alongside him.
“We’ve lost the boys who have been a part of that group; they’ve all been as important as each other.
“There was that stuff [about him being unhappy] that came out after Origin. To be fair, half the time you wouldn’t know if he’s joking. He certainly hasn’t changed in the dressing room and is just as goofy as he’s always been. It certainly hasn’t affected the way he plays – he’s been outstanding.
“Footy is a big thing, but the friendship and brotherhood those four have formed, it supersedes [everything else]. It’s been special to watch.”
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