Add Category
In short:
Brian To'o has declared he will stay with the defending premiers, Penrith Panthers.
The winger was quick to shut-down any rumours he might be leaving the club, amid reports he's unsettled in Penrith.
What's next?
To'o is contracted to the Panthers until the end of 2027.
Brian To'o has told Penrith officials he remains completely committed to the club, after he and the Panthers declared any concerns about his future had been put to bed.
To'o and his management met with Penrith CEO Matt Cameron on Thursday, amid suggestions the NSW State of Origin winger is unsettled at the Panthers.
But both sides walked away from the talks happy, with To'o taking to Instagram afterwards to reaffirm his commitment to the Panthers.
ABC Sport is live blogging every day of the Paris Olympics
"Thanks for all the support fans," To'o posted to his story.
"Nothing to see. Not going anywhere. No shopping here. Let's get it."
Penrith officials also told AAP To'o did not ask for any release in the meetings, or indicate he was unhappy at the foot of the mountains.
There is also no move to renegotiate the 25-year-old's deal, with To'o contracted to the Panthers until the end of 2027 and standing to earn close to $650,000 next season.
Instead, the meeting is said to have cleared the air over any potential worries To'o or the club had around his future.
"Today we had a very positive discussion with Brian and his management," Cameron told AAP.
"Brian confirmed he is fully committed to the club moving forward as he aims to help win a fourth grand final."
A key cog in Penrith's run of dominance, the Panthers could ill-afford to lose the winger given the yardage he offers out of his own end early in sets.
The 25-year-old opted against going to the open market when he re-signed with the club at the end of 2022.
In the time since his entire bridal party of Stephen Crichton, Jarome Luai, Spencer Leniu and Sunia Turuva have all gone to market and signed elsewhere on bigger money than Penrith could afford.
To'o recently spent the best part of two months alongside Crichton, Luai and Leniu in NSW Origin camp.
That had prompted suggestions in recent days To'o could potentially agitate to follow suit, given several of his close childhood friends are now playing elsewhere.
Penrith were said to be shocked by that and were caught off guard when news broke of To'o's potential concerns earlier in the week.
Panthers teammates also insisted they had not noticed any change in To'o in recent months, and could not see any way in which he would push to exit the club.
"I can't see him going anywhere," Penrith second-rower Scott Sorensen said on Wednesday.
"He doesn't at all seem restless, far from it."
Penrith's relief on To'o comes a day after the club snuck in to secure the signing of rising Parramatta star Blaize Talagi on a three-year deal.
That is unlikely to be announced until at least next week with the Eels opting against waiving the 10-day cooling off period.
AAP
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday.