Queensland bolter Robert Toia is one of 10 siblings who quit alcohol to rise from Brisbane Broncos to Origin

Robert Toia was part of the Brisbane Broncos’ famed junior academy before the Roosters struck. One of 10 kids, he’s since quit alcohol on his way to muzzling Blues star Latrell Mitchell.

Maroons jet Robert Toia is the teetotaller from a family of 12 who slipped through the net of the Brisbane Broncos to become the man that silenced Blues superstar Latrell Mitchell.

Toia will take centre stage in his third appearance for the Maroons in Wednesday’s State of Origin series-decider against the Blues in Sydney.

The Roosters dynamo was supposed to be a target for NSW when he lined up against the rampaging Mitchell in his debut Origin series.

But Toia has so far muzzled Mitchell to the extent Sydney media have been writing about how quiet the Rabbitohs ace has been in blue this year.

That could change at a sold-out Accor Stadium with the series on the line, but so far Toia ‘The Destroyer’ has held his own in the Origin furnace against one of the game’s most explosive players.

Robert Toia has made his NRL and Origin debuts this year. Picture: NRL Photos

Toia, 20, was considered a bolter after being picked to make his Origin debut after just 10 NRL games in his debut season.

But he has been slowly preparing for league’s toughest arena since being part of the Broncos’ famed Elite Player Development academy in his early teens before being snared by the Roosters.

“I grew up in those EPD programs with the Broncos,” Toia said.

“From like under-12s, 13s, whatever I was with the Broncos.

“Then I got picked up by the Roosters at a Met North carnival (schoolboys). I was trialling for Met North.

“(Roosters scout) Daniel Anderson found me when I was 14 and I’ve been with them ever since.

“They could have turned the other way so many times, but they’ve just stuck by me.”

Toia was born in New Zealand before moving to Brisbane at age five and is the third eldest of 10 children.

Along with father Beau and mother Fanga, the ‘Toia Ten’ have been credited with helping transform a boy from South Auckland into Queensland’s next Origin star – and he may not be the last Toia to grace the NRL.

Toia went to Nudgee College and was in the Broncos’ junior system. Picture: John Gass

“My family means the world to me,” Toia said.

“I’ve got six brothers and three sisters. Having so many brothers was the best, but also not the best at the same time.

“I feel like we always fought and we always hugged each other. There was a lot of arguments, a lot fights, but then a lot competitiveness and just trying to one-up each other all the time.

“I’ve got two brothers with the Roosters currently. Loka is in reserve grade and Mana is at Nudgee College.”

Toia said his parents left New Zealand for more opportunities in Australia and the decision has paid dividends with his rise to the Origin arena.

But he has had his fair share of setbacks, overcoming two knee reconstructions and a broken jaw over the past three years just to make his NRL debut.

Determined to make it in the NRL, Toia quit drinking alcohol and hasn’t looked back – albeit admitting the temptations of a cold Fourex Gold after an Origin win were hard to resist after Queensland levelled the series in Perth.

Toia quit alcohol on his way to playing Origin. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

“I used to drink but I quit,” he said.

“I was never a big drinker but this year I decided just to give it up.

“I don’t know how long for, maybe a couple of years or maybe until I’m 50.

“I wanted to give it up because I was never into it so I thought ‘what’s the point of drinking if I’m not really into it?’

“After the game two win it was tempting. You just want to enjoy the win and celebrate with the boys, but I managed not to.

“If we get the win (in Sydney) hopefully I still manage to stay off it.”

Originally published as Queensland bolter Robert Toia is one of 10 siblings who quit alcohol to rise from Brisbane Broncos to Origin