If we’re ever going to solve that old question about unstoppable forces and immovable objects, the best way might be letting Brian To’o and Greg Marzhew run straight into each other.
The Penrith and Newcastle wingers will go head-to-head in Sunday’s preliminary final with collisions that promise to rock the foundations of Stadium Australia.
Between them they boast a little over 200kg of prime Samoan beef, forged by pumping ludicrous amounts of steel in one case and fuelled by a truly startling quantity of Coke Zero in the other.
With a grand final berth on the line they will do what they do best: taking the ball and smashing into each other and anything else that gets in their way.
To’o has long been counted as one of the NRL’s top wingers. (Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)
They’ll do it returning kicks, they’ll do it early in sets, they’ll do it close to the line to try and barge in and score and they’ll do it over and over again until one of them is grand final bound.
Nobody can do all those things, grand finals included, like To’o, which is why he’s the best winger of his time, but having played against Marzhew since the two’s junior days he’ll readily admit to taking some inspiration from the Knights wrecking machine.
“He’s someone I like to base my game on, he’s really strong and a big part of their team. I’m honoured to battle it out with my uso Greg,” said To’o.
“It’s our job to put our body on the front line and get the set started. It doesn’t matter if it’s one person in front of you, or two or three or four or five, just go as hard as you can.”
Marzhew has enjoyed one of the best years of his career in 2026. (Getty Images: Izhar Khan)
Likewise, Marzhew has looked to To’o plenty of times before and this season has the Panthers legend covered for tries (24 to 16), line breaks (27 to 21) and tackle busts (124 to 112), although To’o has him beat for average run metres (194 per game to 188)
Marzhew’s form has earned him Newcastle’s player’s player award and he believes the challenge of taking on players like To’o has brought out the best in him.
“Penrith are one of my favourite teams to play against, they have so many representative players and I’m getting to go up against one of the best wingers to ever do it,” said Marzhew
“I pride myself on that kind of stuff [big carries]. I try to excel with it because it’s what the boys expect of me, if the crowd gets on top that’s the cherry on top.”
Fighting against greater numbers and winning is To’o’s specialty. (Getty Images: Matt King)
He’s been doing it for so long now it’s hard to imagine a time when To’o didn’t relish the contact but he did have to learn to love it.
“When I was a bit younger, I was a bit shorter than I am now, I wouldn’t say I was scared but there was that feeling that I might get knocked around,” said To’o.
“I don’t know if that counts as scared, I guess it pretty much does.
“It wasn’t until my old man said, ‘You’re running it straight and getting knocked down or you’re coming off and going home.’
“So I decided I’d run it straight. That was probably under-13s, I just dialled in and decided.”
For Marzhew, who’s got about 10kg on To’o, the issue was much simpler — there’s never been any fear because he has always felt made for this
“Nah, that’s the job description [running into people],” said Marzhew.
“That’s what I signed up for.”
The duo have plenty in common aside from their belief that the best way to solve a rugby league problem is to run right through it.
Both can really put on the dancing shoes — To’o’s been hitting a little samba-type number after scoring recently, most notable after wrapping up Penrith’s qualifying final over the Roosters with a late intercept try following one of his best games of the season.
“It’s a Brazilian dance on TikTok, all the kids in my family, my nieces and nephews are always doing it,” said To’o.
“My son does the dance and a Spider-man celebration as well, so I just wanted to honour all the kids.
“Now it’s become a thing, I’ll see kids down at the shops and they’ll ask me to do it.
“But Greg’s got me. He’s built different. I’ve seen his moves, he’s got the hips for it.”
To’o’s not kidding — Marzhew was a champion breakdancer in his youth, twice travelling to the United States to represent Australia in the world championships.
He says he’s too big to move like he used to but the popping and locking and clean backflip he landed at the NRL’s fan fest before the season opener in Las Vegas says otherwise.
But Marzhew needs just one try to equal Dom Young’s record for most four-pointers in a season for the Knights and he’ll likely have to go over To’o to do it, so the dancing will have to wait.
Marzhew and the Knights will be out to defy the odds yet again. (Getty Images: Hannah Peters)
“I’ll let him take it, my mind is on something else — maybe after the game,” said Marzhew.
“No dance, but I’d love to equal the record and share it with my brother, Dom Young, on the other wing.”
If Penrith win, it will mark To’o’s sixth grand final appearance while Marzhew is after his first.
A crowd of over 50,000 is expected, with a horde of Knights fans expected on hand for the club’s first preliminary final since 2013.
The support comes as no shock to Marzhew, who has loved the city ever since arriving from Gold Coast in 2023, and he’s ready to run into, over or through anything that gets in the way of Newcastle premiership dream.
“It’s not a surprise, I wouldn’t expect it but I love it and to play for them in this situation is an honour,” said Marzhew.
“It’s always a privilege to play in any game for Newcastle. I love playing for this town. It was home right from that first year.”
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