PNG Chiefs director of football Michael Chammas has revealed the club had just seven days to get a deal over the line with Brian To'o.
The Panthers winger confirmed on Monday morning that he would be making the move to the PNG Chiefs on a three-year deal from the start of 2027.
It was exclusively revealed in May by Zero Tackle that To'o had told the Panthers he wouldn't be re-signing beyond the end of 2027, when his current contract expires.
Instead, his preference was to link up with best mate Jarome Luai at the PNG Chiefs after he became the club's first player locked in earlier this year.
The Panthers didn't give To'o permission to negotiate early then, but they did in recent times, with the club giving seven days to sort a deal out with PNG, before he would have been taken back off the market until November 1.
“It's a big moment for the club." Chammas said on SEN's Arvos with Adam Peacock.
“We are really proud as a club to get him on board.
“He's a winner and we need that mentality within our four walls.
“The Panthers have been great during this process and they understand what this team will do for rugby league.
“In the conversations between him, his management and Penrith, there was a mutual understanding that if he wanted to test the open market before November 1, he could.
“We were informed about a week ago that we had seven days to get this deal done.
“It's no secret that he and Jarome Luai are close mates (and) I have no doubt that that relationship helped get him on board.
“We are only six signings in. We still have a lot of work to do."
The signing of the winger means he becomes the sixth player locked in to the Chiefs for the 2028 campaign, with the outside back's form dipping this year to the point he was overlooked for Game 3 of the 2026 State of Origin series.
To'o may not be the only Panther to depart at the end of 2027, although the move that sees him head to PNG will free up more than $600,000 per season on Penrith's salary cap as they fight to extend and upgrade the contracts of Isaah Yeo, Nathan Cleary, Liam Martin and others prior to November 1 when all clubs will be able to begin working for their signature.
