Why Luai is happy To’o won’t follow him out of Panthers

Jarome Luai is happy to see Brian To’o staying at Penrith despite a rumored exit that could have allowed them to continue playing together at Wests Tigers.

Club management held crisis talks with To’o last week after reports he was reconsidering his future at the Panthers, who will lose his good mates Luai and Sunia Turuva to the Tigers next NRL season.

Wests coach Benji Marshall had flagged interest in To’o last week, with the Tigers’ shortage of elite outside backs exposed during a disappointing 2024 season.

But Luai laughed off suggestion he had been in To’o’s ear about agitating for a release from the last three years of his contract at the triple reigning premiers.

“It was pretty funny when people started blaming me,” the five-eighth said.

“I think they were always going to do that when they were getting rumors about that (To’o’s exit).

“You sort of wonder where they originated from, and I don’t even think ‘Bizza’ (To’o) knows which is pretty interesting.”

To’o have since assured the Panthers of their commitment and was at their barnstorming best in Sunday’s 22-14 defeat of Newcastle, setting up a try for Izack Tago and running for more than 200 metres.

Luai gave up hope of remaining a one-club player in pursuit of extra responsibility at Wests from next season, but he is glad to see To’o’s dream remains alive.

“I’ve been in his shoes. If you asked me three or four years ago if I was going to be a one-club player then I would have said ‘Yes’,” Luai said.

“He’s in that boat. Looking from the outside in, hopefully he stays here because he bleeds Penrith like we all do.

“At the end of the day, it is a business so whatever happens, I just want the best for him.”

Luai said leaving To’o behind at Penrith will add extra incentive to challenge for State of Origin selection next season.

The pair reunited with ex-Panthers teammates Stephen Crichton and Spencer Leniu in Origin this season to help NSW win the series.

“We all started a clique with each other and we became best mates, but we’ve sort of used Origin as a mad motivator for us to come together and play together again,” Luai said.

“To get that opportunity again next year hopefully will be pretty special for us, but I’m not really fussed about next year.”