Blockbusting Penrith Panthers winger Brian To’o is the same vein of form as former triple Dally M Winger of the Year Akuila Uate, according to True Blue Jamie Soward.
To’o made a welcome return for the Panthers from an ankle injury last round and immediately showed the type of form that earned him a Brydens Lawyers NSW Blues jumper this season after running for 295 metres including 103 post-contact, making 8 tackle busts and scoring a try.
He currently leads the NRL for running metres (4,267) and post-contact metres (1,618) and is the top five for all runs (391) and tackle breaks (106).
Newcastle Knights flyer Uate was the Dally M Winger of the Year from 2010-12, the Rugby League International Federation Winger of the Year in 2011, and the Rugby League Players Association Player of the Year also in 2011.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little bit nervous to see how he handled the jump from club footy to Origin footy was going to affect Brian To’o but I’m happy to say that I was wrong,” Soward told Behind Blue Eyes for nswrl.com.au.
“He was outstanding in State of Origin, and he’s come back from his injury and just jumped straight in and been more influential.
“I take it back to Akuila Uate and he had a period there where he was just unstoppable. It didn’t matter how many players you put in front of him, he scored tries, he ran for metres.
“That’s where Brian To’o is at the moment. You know he’s going to run for 200-250 metres a game and that’s a huge advantage for the Penrith Panthers so he’s definitely probably the best winger with Josh Addo-Carr in the world at the moment.
“Brian’s work-rate at the back of the field is second to none. He’s got the strength and he’s also got a little bit of footwork.”
