Panthers flyer’ ‘disgusting’ 2,000 calorie grand final diet revealed

The extraordinary, borderline unhealthy, game day diet fuelling a Penrith Panthers star has been uncovered and it’s a sight to behold.

Embargoed for Friday 4 October , DAILY TELEGRAPH OCTOBER 1, 2024. Penrith Panthers Brian To'o at the Panthers Rugby League Academy ahead of the Grand Final. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The extraordinary, borderline unhealthy, game day diet fuelling Panthers winger Brian To’o can be revealed.

On Sunday morning, ahead of his fifth straight grand final appearance, To’o will sit down and eat two breakfast burgers, a large bowl of chips with aioli sauce and a simply inconceivable six cans of Coke Zero. Watch the best coverage of the 2024 NRL finals, with expert analysis and every game until the Grand Final LIVE with no ad-breaks during play, on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >

That’s nearly 2,000 worth of calories entering To’o’s system just hours before he puts in the world-beating shifts he’s put in week in, week out for the last five years.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Panthers edge forward Liam Martin described the diet as “disgusting,” before revealing he doesn’t know how To’o is “a professional athlete.”

“It’s incredible, every time we go out to brekkie on away trips I always get a photo of it because I still can’t believe it,” Martin said.

To’o’s diet is a sight to behold. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)

And while the diet, which would have some healthcare professionals and everyday Australians grimacing, may seem extraordinary, league legend Gorden Tallis revealed on Thursday’s night NRL 360 that To’o’s eating habits aren’t unique to him.

“I’ve played with some guys where their diet didn’t affect their performance. Wendell Sailor was one of them. Alan Langer was another,” he explained.

“You’d walk in and Alf would have toasties and a strawberry milkshake.

“And Wendell would get on the bus with a litre of Coke and chocolate and chips and have a burger and it wouldn’t worry him.

“I could never have that.”

Veteran journalist Phil Rothfield noted one of the game’s immortals was also known to have loose dietary preferences prior to game day.

“Johnny Raper’s legendary for this; having a night out before the match, a mixed grill and eggs for breakfast and run out and win man of the match,” he said.

2004 premiership winner Braith Anasta admitted he was “so jealous of those blokes” before stating that with To’o’s enormous workload it’s understandable why his pre-game meal would be the way it is.

To’o covers serious distance during every game. NRL PHOTOS

“For him because he runs so far in a game it’s the energy. It’s the energy in carbs and he burns it off,” he said.

“None of us could eat it.”

To’o’s is renowned for his power game coming out of yardage, which often kicks Penrith sets into life on the opening tackle of a set.

This season only James Tedesco ran for more metres and broke more tackles than the Penrith winger, who ran for 4,237 metres (184 per game) and broke 158 tackles in 2024.

And while there may be little nutritional value in To’o’s pre-game feast, Anasta noted it may have a psychological impact on the Dally M Winger of the Year.

“It’s superstition too. If they have the same meal and have success they won’t change it,” he said.

In the eyes of Fox League’s James Hooper, there is no need to amend the diet.

“Whatever Brian’s doing, it’s working. That’s why I wouldn’t change it,” he said.

Originally published as Panthers flyer’ ‘disgusting’ 2,000 calorie grand final diet revealed