Penrith Panthers star Brian To’o bought his parents a Sydney home before winning NRL grand final
Penrith Panthers crowd-favourite winger Brian To’o bought his family a house to thank them for helping him achieve his dreams ahead of his NRL grand final win.
The generous footy star spent $859,100 on a home for his parents, Fati and Fale, in Ropes Crossing, near Penrith in western Sydney, a few months before his team’s second consecutive premiership win on Sunday.
‘It’s to give back to Mum and Dad for everything they’ve done for me and just say how much they mean to me,’ To’o told Sunrise on Saturday.
His mother, Fati, broke down in tears when recalling the moment they first arrived at their new home.
Penrith Panthers winger Brian To’o bought his parents an $859,100 western Sydney home ahead of his team’s grand final win on Sunday (pictured, To’o with his mother Fati and father Fale outside their new Ropes Crossing home)
The Penrith panthers took their second consecutive grand final win on Sunday in a match against the Parramatta Eels (pictured, To’o after the game with the premiership trophy)
‘I said to myself ‘I’m very lucky to have such a beautiful son, because he provides for us,’ she said.
To’o’s father, Fale, said they are grateful for their son’s successful career.
‘We thank God for the strength, the knowledge and the skill, the talent, for Brian,’ he said.
To’o previously spoke about being raised as one of six children in a three-bedroom fibro home in Mt Druitt.
‘There were two of us in each room and Mum and Dad ended up sleeping in the loungeroom,’ he told NRL News.
‘My parents are obviously the biggest influence on my life.
‘They have always been there for me and bought me up to be the man I am today, so I am very grateful to my parents.’
To’o said he is ‘very grateful’ to his parents and bought them a home is Ropes Crossing (above) to thank them for supporting him
The Penrith Panthers beat fellow western Sydney team Parramatta Eels 28-12 in Sunday night’s grand final match
The Penrith Panthers won 28-12 against the Parramatta Eels on Sunday night, marking the western Sydney team’s second consecutive grand final win.
To’o was seen draped in a Samoan flag for post-match interviews ahead of his World Cup debut representing his home country.
He later joined teammates and fans to celebrate the victory at the Panthers League Club in a party that lasted through to late Monday morning.
To’o’s mother Fati (above) broke down in tears when describing the moment the NRL star gave them the western Sydney home
To’o (pictured after the grand final game on Sunday) said he bought the home to ‘give back’ to his parents
To’o was one of seven players in Sunday’s grand final that will be representing Samoa in the Rugby League World Cup next week.
He said his decision to represent Samoa rather than Australia was made with ‘love’.
‘We obviously respect the jersey with Australia, that’s the highest point, that’s the team to make,’ he told Sydney Morning Herald.
‘All it comes down to is a decision, not with our minds but with our hearts. We obviously chose Samoa, that’s why.
‘Representing my family, my culture, my background, it’s more than just a game. We’re representing not only our families, friends and ourselves, but we’re representing all the kids in Samoa.’
He will play beside fellow Panthers Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Izack Tago, and Spencer Leniu and Parramatta Eels players Junior Paulo and Oregon Kaufusi.
Panthers Brian To’o, Jarome Luai, Stephen Crichton, Izack Tago, and Spencer Leniu (pictured, To’o and Tago during the preliminary finals)