By Mount Druitt
But it would have to take something serious to keep him from pulling on the Blues jersey with three of his best mates who may have gone their separate ways in the NRL but retain a strong drive to represent their community every chance they get.
To鈥檕 injured his knee playing for Penrith in their win over the Bulldogs last month but is expected to play given he scored a hat-trick in game two while battling a hamstring complaint.
鈥淚鈥檓 not the trainer so I don鈥檛 know,鈥 teammate Stephen Crichton said, with the rest of the injured brigade set to play on Wednesday.
鈥淏ut I鈥檓 pretty sure they鈥檙e in today.鈥
The decider will be the last chance for To鈥檕, Crichton, Spencer Leniu and Jarome Luai to share the field as teammates this season until the Pacific Championships where they鈥檙e all expected to be selected for Samoa if fit.
The quartet all share a special bond having grown up in Mount Druitt before going on to win premierships together with Penrith, while they all played for Samoa in the 2022 World Cup final against Australia.
To鈥檕 is the only one left at the Panthers with Crichton at the Bulldogs, Luai at the Tigers and Leniu at the Roosters, which is why they鈥檝e been inseparable during the Origin camps.
鈥淪ince we don鈥檛 play at each other鈥檚 clubs right now, this is the opportunity that we do get to share blood and share conversations when we come back into camp,鈥 Crichton said.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 take these camps lightly.
鈥淭his is one of the camps that we get to come in and see each other鈥檚 kids and their partners as well because we don鈥檛 get to do it during the year.
鈥淲e don鈥檛 take it lightly, and we take these opportunities with both hands.鈥
Luai and To鈥檕 are both St Marys juniors, while Leniu (Minchinbury Jets) and Crichton (St Clair Comets) grew up playing footy for other clubs in the area.
They remain passionate about inspiring the next generation of kids in western Sydney, with Crichton embracing the responsibility.
鈥淲e hold our home town to our heart every time we go out there. We aren鈥檛 here without the community of Mount Druitt that gets behind us,鈥 he said.
鈥淓very time we run out, it鈥檚 for those people out there, and they know that we represent 鈥楳ounty鈥 hard when we come out and represent on the biggest stage.
鈥淲e鈥檙e not just playing for us and our family; we鈥檙e also playing for where we came from as young kids as well.
鈥淭here was always a bad name for Mt Druitt when we were younger so now to see a lot of the boys playing NRL gives that light to the young kids that they can make it out of Mt Druitt and follow their dreams and make it with whatever job they have.
鈥淯s boys are paving the way for those young kids to not get in trouble and to become footy players like us because it鈥檚 the best job in the world.鈥
That bond will be a secret weapon in the decider when Crichton goes up against Maroons rookie Gehamat Shibasaki, while Leniu gets to battle returning legend Josh Papalii in the middle.
Leniu鈥檚 energy off the bench has been a point of difference for every team he鈥檚 ever played for, and fellow reserve Hudson Young says his fiery approach on the sidelines has helped him rip in when he鈥檚 been injected into the contest.
鈥淚 love it, I think it鈥檚 good for the game,鈥 the Raiders star said.
鈥淎ny time the fans get involved (is good). For a player to do that and back his ability, I鈥檓 all for it.
鈥淎s a player running down there, it gives me the confidence to go out there and play with him.鈥