CLANCY OVERELL | Editor | CONTACT
The iconic rugby league journalist and the game’s all-seeing eye, Buzz Rothfield, has today made a sensational claim about a mid-season transfer during an emergency daytime broadcast of NRL360 on Fox League.
Buzz says that according to some inside knowledge that he overheard from a neighbouring table at the famous Grappa Italian restaurant in Sydney’s inner-west, it can be revealed that Penrith Panther’s star winger Brian To’o will be lacing up for the Wests Tigers tonight against The North Queensland Cowboys at Leichhardt Oval.
While mid-season transfers are extremely rare for top flight players, Buzz says it’s already done.
The triple-premiership winning Panthers winger was contracted until the end of 2027 on a deal worth around $625,000 per season – and the Panthers have been quick to dismiss any talk of a release.
But something has changed in the last 24 hours, says Buzz.
“What I’m hearing is that he’s starting to think about his future, Braith” says Buzz.
“His former teammates Stephen Crichton is at the dogs, Viliame Kikau is at the dogs, Spencer Leniu is at the Roosters, and Jarome Luai – his best mate – is heading to the Wests Tigers on generational coin”
“On top of that, Tito Turuva and James Fisher-Harris are leaving Penrith too. He’s already getting lonely, Braith. This was inevitable. I mean, there’s the right way to do things and the wrong way to do things, and obviously everything this kid does will be the wrong way in my eyes. But he’s done it, and it’s happened a lot faster than any of us predicted”
While Buzz refused to identify which colourful inner-west Sydney identity made the claim over lunch today, it is believed that locals had already seen To’o attending several rental inspections in both Leichhardt, Concord and Campbelltown.
“See, that’s how you know this is serious.” said Buzz, nonchalantly, on live TV this afternoon.
“He’s gonna need three residences playing for Wests because they’ve got three homegrounds. He’s already in that mindset. He’s not a Panther’s winger anymore. There’s been sightings of him warming up at Leichhardt this afternoon. I don’t know what’s happening over at Penrith but they’ve been unable to stem the bleeding. This is a club in crisis. Any predictions of a potential fourth premiership should be immediately discounted. Brian To’o is playing for Wests Tigers TONIGHT”
