Brian To’o says his decision to keep playing with a hamstring injury is why he’s missed six weeks of action and has just one game to prove his fitness for the State of Origin series.
To’o makes a timely return for the premiers on Saturday night when Penrith meet the Cowboys in Townsville.
Arguably the game’s best winger, To’o will have 80 minutes to prove to coach Laurie Daley why he deserves to be picked for the Blues in Origin I. Penrith have a bye in round 11 – the weekend in which game one selections will be made.
To’o came from the field in the 70th minute against South Sydney in round four with the same hamstring complaint that ruled him out of the season opener in Las Vegas.
To’o this week said he suffered the injury six minutes before he left the field when he tried to break out of a Jayden Sullivan tackle. Instead of taking his leave, he made six more carries in as many minutes as Penrith tried to steam home against South Sydney.
“I felt a big pull in my hamstring, but it was one of those ones I could still move around, and I would start to cramp if I stood still,” To’o said.
Look who is back: Brian To’o makes a timely return for Penrith on Saturday nightCredit: Penrith Panthers
“I told them [the medicos] I’ll keep going until I stop. It got to a certain point [where] I couldn’t produce any speed and take off properly. That’s when I came off.
“You would have seen me keep touching the hamstring.
“I ended up making it worse [by staying on]. It’s my fault. I should have come off straight away.
“I wanted to be out there with the brothers and help them out where I can.
Brian To’o pulled his hamstring in this tackle, then played on for six minutes, and had another six hit-ups.Credit: Nine
“It’s not the start to the year I wanted, but everything happens for a reason. You get reminded how grateful you are to have what you have, and [what it means] to be injury-free.”
To’o said he was nervous when asked to test the repaired hamstring by hitting top speed at training last week, especially given it was the second time he was returning from the same injury.
To’o and Parramatta’s Zac Lomax are the Blues incumbents on the wing, with Lomax pushing to return from a foot injury next Friday in Newcastle. There have been suggestions coach Laurie Daley is only prepared to pick one of them, given their lack of game time.
To’o won the Brad Fittler Medal for being NSW’s best after the 2023 series and finished with 19 tackle busts during last year’s come-from-behind successful series. He also has the ability to play left and right wing, the latter which would unite him with his good friend and right centre, Stephen Crichton.
“I’d love to play Origin again, and if I get that opportunity to wear the Blues’ jersey again, I’ll be ready for it,” he said.
“[As for Crichton] he’s still my favourite player to watch. The leadership and courage he shows, on and off the field, inspires the other boys to play at the same level. That’s the kind of player everyone wants to be around.”
Queensland centre Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow was certainly aware To’o was returning to the NRL, and said of trying to stop the powerhouse Blue in just over two weeks’ time at Suncorp Stadium: “He’s an exciting player, and when he’s on, he’s one of the best wingers in the comp. He’s so hard to handle.”
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