Kemp: Why Brian To'o is the greatest winger of all time

Former Broncos’ winger Denan Kemp has declared Brian To’o “the best winger of all time” after his dominant Round 3 performance, which included a try of the year contender.

It was another classic showing from Brian To’o, who ran for over 150 metres and a try against the Roosters.

The try, hailed as a try of the year contender by commentator Brenton Speed on SEN League, saw To’o grubber for himself behind the Roosters’ line, before recollecting and grubbering again to score.

Since Penrith’s rise to dominance in 2020, To’o has consistently demonstrated his brilliance, winning two Dally M winger of the year awards, and two Brad Fittler medals for best NSW men’s player at Origin level.

But To’o’s try against the Roosters had Kemp convinced that the Panthers’ 27-year-old winger is already the greatest of all time, even with years remaining in his career.

“It's done, it's full stop… Brian To’o is the greatest winger to ever play rugby league,” Kemp said on Saturday League Kick Off.

“It's the end of the conversation. There's no but, there's no maybe.

“Statistically, in every single category essentially, outside of obviously scoring tries, he is the GOAT (Greatest of All Time).

“That try (against the Roosters) was nothing short of phenomenal, and that, what's crazy is that came from… the 200 metre, PCM (post-contact metre) king.

“He's a front rower on the wing. His job is to get you 200 metres, 100 metres of PCMs, he's doing that as well.

“He's doing the PCMs and he's doing double grubbers. I've never seen a bloke with 100 PCMs plus two grubbers in one game in my life.

“The one knock, whenever you say this is the GOAT, they go ‘but the high ball’. Find me some footage of him losing the highballs.

“There might be one-off games of some former greats that could go toe to toe with Bizza (To’o) or you could find a winger that might be a better finisher or something like that, but the full package of essentially being a front rower on the wing, but also be one of the great try scorers (elevates him).

“I think he's won multiple Brad Fittler medals in Origin in losing series. His average in Origin is 200 metres a game. Bro, you know how hard that is in Origin?

“(He’s) phenomenal.”

To’o’s dominant Friday night performance comes with the Panthers’ third straight win to start the season, making them one of two teams to be 3-0 in 2026.

The Panthers, against defending premiers Brisbane, preliminary finalist Cronulla, and the premiership-contending Sydney Roosters, have scored 92 points and only conceded 10, a defensive record 14 better than the Bulldogs, who have played one less game.

The early-season dominance of Penrith had Chad Townsend and Denan Kemp asking if anyone could beat them, or if all outcomes point to a fifth premiership in six years.

“At this stage of the season, everything I hear out of Penrith at the moment is that Ivan's taken a bit more of a hands-on role this year, he wasn't happy with what happened last year when they made a prelim,” Townsend said on SLKO.

“This is a team that has very high standards. It took a masterclass and a sideline conversion from Reynolds to get them to get them out of the comp (in 2025).

“How long can this team remain undefeated with the way that they're playing? Because I don't know if I can tip against them at all.”

“I would tip against them for anyone, and honestly, right now, they're 13+ nearly every team in the comp,” Kemp agreed.

“They've literally only conceded two tries in three games, and they've played the Broncos, the Sharks, and the Roosters.

“We are witnessing greatness.

“Enjoy it. It'll never happen again. Like, in the modern game, I just don't think this happens again.”