Brian To’o confirms Panthers departure, new club

The PNG Chiefs have confirmed the signing of Penrith Panthers winger Brian To'o from the start of the 2028 NRL season.

It was first revealed by Zero Tackle in May that the Penrith Panthers were resigned to losing their State of Origin winger, with the PNG Chiefs his preferred destination.

The Panthers then gave permission for To'o to negotiate his future early away from the foot of the mountains, and he has now reached a three-year agreement with the Chiefs to become their sixth inaugural player.

It means he will line up for the Port Moresby-based club in 2028, 2029, and 2030, taking him towards the end of his career.

“Brian has performed at the highest level of rugby league for many years and knows exactly what is required to create and sustain a winning environment,” the club's general manager of football Michael Chammas said.

“He brings competitiveness, consistency, and an enormous work ethic, but equally important for us is what he brings culturally.

“We are building this club from the ground up, and the standards established by our first group of players will shape our club for generations. Brian understands family, sacrifice, humility, and togetherness.

"Those are values shared across Papua New Guinea and the Pacific. To secure a player of Brian's quality, character and cultural strength is a huge moment for the Chiefs.”

To'o joins Alex Johnston as the club's likely starting wingers in their inaugural season, while, alongside Luai, the club have also signed Sydney Roosters utility Connor Watson and English prop Matty Lees, as well as cross-code star Zac Lomax.

The star winger, who was dropped for the third game of the Origin series, has been underpaid at the foot of the mountains for some time, and had a desire to link up with his best mate Jarome Luai who became the club's first player earlier this year.

The Panthers are facing one of the biggest salary cap crunches the game has ever seen, and To'o is the first domino to fall.

The club has also given prop Moses Leota permission to negotiate, although it's believed his preference is to remain at Penrith long term.

The Penrith-based outfit will now turn its attention towards other key priorities in Origin trio Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary and Liam Martin who are all off-contract at the end of 2027.

To'o will see out 2027 with the Panthers before moving on to the Chiefs.