The Penrith Panthers have reportedly demanded an explanation from Brian To’o after the Daily Mail revealed his sexualised remarks about many of his teammates and their partners – including Nathan Cleary and girlfriend Mary Fowler.
The winger took to Instagram and left comments on posts featuring his fellow Panthers, with each of them referring to the players’ partners in demeaning and sexist terms after the club’s awards night on Tuesday.
To’o described Cleary as ‘Fowler slayer’, adding a goat emoji and a red love heart, with several other stars and their partners also coming in for the same treatment.
Now the club has asked To’o to explain the incident after he said he was remorseful, admitted the remarks were in poor taste and said the posts were a joke gone wrong, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
Scott Sorensen, whose wife’s name is Elle, was also targeted by To’o, who described him as ‘Elle smasher’, with Matt Eisenhuth – who is married to Holly – called ‘Holly destroyer’.
Tom Jenkins and NSW Cup player of the year Luke Summerton also came in for the same treatment, being called ‘Jess wrecker’ and ‘Keira demolisher’ respectively.
Brian To’o (pictured with wife Moesha) has been labelled a ‘grub’ over sexualised comments he made about teammates and their partners
Nathan Cleary and his girlfriend Mary Fowler were targeted by To’o on Instagram
To’o described Cleary as ‘the fowler slayer’ in one of a series of off-colour remarks using the first names of players’ partners
All of the players To’o commented on won awards during the ceremony, which was held on Tuesday night.
The Penrith Panthers had no comment to make when contacted by the Daily Mail. To’o has also been contacted for comment.
Instagram users were left outraged by To’o’s remarks, with some guessing that he thought he was sending direct messages as he replied to an Instagram story, and failed to realise they were available to the public.
‘I’m actually so grossed out wtf,’ one wrote.
‘Hella gross to speak out about another man’s partner like this PUBLICLY and I hope all of those blokes call it out. Like put some … respect on Mary Fowler’s name,’ added another.
‘Girl is walking a major fashion show and her partner winning an award somehow warrants are [sic] gross comment. Makes me sad. Love Mary Fowler,’ a third said, referring to the Matildas star’s upcoming appearance on the catwalk in Paris for L’Oreal.
‘It’s a really bad attempt at humour! If I was his partner I’d be embarrassed. He’s a grub,’ another wrote.
Several commenters brought up highly publicised incidents at To’o’s wedding in December 2022.
Tom Jenkins and his partner Jessica got the same treatment as Cleary and Fowler
Matt Eisenhuth, who’s wife’s name is Holly, was also referenced in comments that left many Instagram users disgusted
Commenters hoped that the award-winning players like Scott Sorensen (pictured) would call out To’o for making the remarks
Sorensen is pictured with his wife Elle, who attended the ceremony with him
He was recorded telling wife Moesha about an X-rated sex act he wanted to perform on her in a TikTok video taken just after the ceremony, leaving her visibly angry.
The four-time premiership winner’s former teammate Jarome Luai made a public apology for jokes he told about To’o in a speech at the wedding.
Luai made off-colour gags about To’o’s personal hygiene and joked that the winger had met another woman while he was on tour in England.
He then posted an apology to Instagram, writing, ‘Just wanna apologise for the words I spoke at my brother’s wedding and how ashamed I am for embarrassing both families and my own.
‘Apologies to everyone I disrespected, this is something I will always regret.’
Cleary won his third Merv Cartwright Medal at the presentation on Tuesday night, taking out the club’s highest individual honour.
Jenkins won the John Farragher Award for Courage and Determination, and the Members Player of the Year, which is a fan-driven honour.
Eisenhuth took the Senior Education Award, Sommerton was the NSW Cup Player of the Year, and Sorensen was named Club Person of the Year.
To’o’s remarks have come to light as the team prepares for their do-or-die finals clash with the New Zealand Warriors in Auckland on Saturday.
To’o is pictured proposing to his wife Moesha just after Penrith won the 2021 grand final
On Tuesday, the Daily Mail broke the news that a fan behind a Facebook Warriors supporters group revealed where the Panthers are staying before the game.
He urged his team’s followers to target them by letting off fireworks, doing burnouts and screaming from 1-4am on the morning of the match.
The post went viral and made it all the way to the Panthers’ top brass, who reported it to the NRL.
‘We’re aware of the post that has been circulating,’ Panthers rugby league chief executive Matt Cameron said.
‘I’m all for the fans being passionate about their team. I would expect both sets of fans to act responsibly while still supporting their clubs.
‘There’s a lot of respect between the two clubs and everyone is excited about the challenge of going to New Zealand and playing in front of a full stadium.’
