'This is for my son': Expectant dad To'o dedicates premiership ring

Most players will say it’s the highlight of their year but as Brian To’o celebrated his third straight grand final victory, he knew his best day was still to come.

Two years after proposing to his wife Moesha amid the 2021 grand final celebrations, the Penrith winger kissed his future son in the stands after taking out the 2023 competition on Sunday.

With less than four weeks until the Samoan superstar becomes a Dad, To’o dedicated his third premiership ring to the little boy he is busting to meet.

“This ring is definitely for my son. It was obviously a massive moment to finish the year like this but I know it will be ten times more special when my son arrives,” To’o told NRL.com.

“We're four weeks now so it’s all come up really quickly. I’m scared but really excited, it’s going to be a boy as well.

“Obviously being a football player was a dream but being a father is something I’ve always wanted to be so I’m really excited for that.”

The electric winger had the whole of Suncorp Stadium cheering when he got down on one knee and proposed to his high school sweetheart after the Panthers' thrilling 14-12 grand final victory over the Rabbitohs in 2021. 

Having helped the Panthers to an incredible three-peat premiership on Sunday, To'o has also shared many special milestones off the field after marrying Moesha in December last year and announcing their pregnancy earlier in May.

"I’m just truly blessed and grateful to have this moment and to be able to have my wife and son beside me, I’m so happy," he said. 

“In 2021, I proposed to my wife, and we got married last year, so it’s all going to God’s plan. 

“I'm so grateful to share this journey with my wife and I just can't wait to start our family.”

With baby To’o due later this month, the Blues winger said he will wait and see what the baby's arrival means for his international commitments this year after being selected in the Samoan squad on Tuesday.

The 25-year-old was immense in Samoa's charge to the World Cup final, scoring five tries and averaging 232 run metres a game in England last year.

“We’ll just see what happens, it’ll just depend on the baby and how my wife feels as well,” he said.

“I’m going to be on dad duties, or I’ll be belly rubbing the baby until then but we’ll just wait and see.

"It was a really proud and special experience to represent Samoa in the World Cup last year and I'd love to put that jersey on again and play for my people and my family."