Super-fit footy star reveals what happened when he drank 600 cans of Coke in one month - and the pre-game meal he had to keep a secret from his parents
Panthers winger and four-time NRL Premiership winner Brian To'o has revealed that his health didn't suffer despite the fact he polished off nearly 600 cans of Coke Zero in a single month.
While most NRL stars take their diets very seriously to stay in top shape, To'o is is known for his love of junk food and soft drink.
Before the 2024 decider, the Penrith flyer sat down to eat a large bowl of chips with aioli, two breakfast burgers and a staggering six Coke Zeros.
When Coca-Cola heard about this they shipped To'o 24 cases of Coke Zero, each box holding 24 cans.
To'o says he finished the lot - 576 cans - in a single month and says he feels fine.
'I think Coke sponsored Penrith so they sent me 24 boxes of 24 packs (after the story),' To'o told News Corp.
'Put it this way, I got them in October and they were finished by November. My teeth still seem pretty good.'
The Panthers star is currently in camp for the Blues and says his game-day diet will not change before Game 1.
'My wife (Moesha) is always questioning me, asking: "Are you sure that's your game day ritual?" I'm like: "I have to stick with it, honey",' To'o said.
'It's always the same diet every time – two breakfast burgers, bowl of chips, cafe latte, two sugars and six Coke Zeros.
'The way I see it, it's a bit of fuel for the engine. I had it once when I was young, about 14, and played really well, so I kept doing it.
'I made sure back then I ate outside the house (so my parents didn't see.). My mum and dad would have told me off.
'Mum and Dad found out after my second NRL game.
'I took them out to breakfast and they asked whether I was playing after watching what I was eating. I have been lucky to maintain my shape but it's a normal game day routine.'
Nathan Cleary politely described To'o's food intake as 'unique', while Panthers five-eighth Jarome Luai said he has the 'worst diet in NRL history'
Last year, Panthers forward Liam Martin said he would be 'dying in five minutes' if he had the same meal before a match and his other teammates have previously joked about him having the 'worst diet in the NRL'.
'I don't know how he is a professional athlete,' Martin added.
'If he's ever worried we're on an away trip where there will be no Coke Zeros, he brings his own.'
Halfback Nathan Cleary is also dumbfounded by how his mate can still perform at incredibly high level despite what he puts into his body.
'His diet is the most unique I've seen for a rugby league player,' Cleary said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Powys County Times
an hour ago
- Powys County Times
Enzo Maresca ‘very proud' as Chelsea book last-eight berth
Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca was proud of his team after beating Benfica in extraordinary, weather-hit circumstances to reach the Club World Cup quarter-finals. The Blues eventually ran out 4-1 winners after extra-time in a last-16 tie in Charlotte which was suspended for almost two hours due to a thunderstorm. Chelsea had been just four minutes away from victory following Reece James's stunning free-kick when the players were taken off the field at the Bank of America Stadium. Benfica benefited from the break and forced extra-time with a controversial Angel Di Maria penalty after play finally resumed. Meanwhile, in the dressing room. — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 28, 2025 The game swung back in Chelsea's favour after the Portuguese giants had Gianluca Prestianni sent off and Christopher Nkunku gave them a decisive lead. Breakaway goals from Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall wrapped up the win. Maresca told DAZN: 'I'm very proud. The performance for me was top until the last five minutes when they stopped the game, and when we restarted (it was) a completely a different game. 'When you are inside for more than one hour it's not easy but, 1-1, we continued to play and, at the end, I think the reward was one that we deserve.' The players were pictured riding exercise bikes and kicking balls in the dressing room during the enforced break. Maresca said: 'Especially when it's 85 minutes, five minutes to go, it's very difficult. 'But we tried to keep them in the best way we could in that moment and, at the end, we are in the last eight teams here in this competition and we are very happy.' Chelsea will return to Philadelphia, where they played two group games, to face Brazilian side Palmeiras in the quarter-finals on Friday. 'Now we need to recover players, recover the energy and go again,' said Maresca. Moises Caicedo delivered an influential performance but will miss the next game after being booked for a second time in the tournament. Caicedo said of the team's prospects: 'We believe. We know this a tough tournament but, the thing is, we're working hard and doing well. At the end, we're going to see why we (are still) here.' Reflecting on the weather delay, the Ecuadorian said: 'We were talking in the dressing room. The thing was (to stay) focused the whole game. I'm so happy because we did it.'
South Wales Argus
2 hours ago
- South Wales Argus
Chelsea book Club World Cup quarter-final spot after long weather delay
The Blues were just four minutes away from victory in normal time in Charlotte after a stunning Reece James free-kick when a thunderstorm forced the players off the field. After a stoppage of almost two hours, Angel Di Maria equalised from the penalty spot but Chelsea roused themselves in extra-time after the Portuguese giants had Gianluca Prestianni sent off. Christopher Nkunku struck from close range in the 108th minute before further goals from Pedro Neto and Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall wrapped up a deserved triumph, four hours and 38 minutes after kick-off at the Bank of America Stadium. And breathe. Up the Chels!!! 💙 — Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) June 29, 2025 Enzo Maresca's side will face Palmeiras in the last eight in Philadelphia on Friday after their defeat of Brazilian rivals Botafogo earlier on Saturday. Influential midfielder Moises Caicedo will not be available after he was booked in the second half in North Carolina. Chelsea dominated the majority of the game, but failed to make the most of a succession of chances in the first half. Marc Cucurella curled a shot around goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin but Antonio Silva reacted quickly to head off the line. Trubin then tipped an effort round the post from Cole Palmer before smothering another attempt from Cucurella. Players walk off the field for a weather delay during the Club World Cup round of 16 soccer match between Benfica and Chelsea in Charlotte, North Carolina (Chris Carlson/AP) A rare attack from Benfica was thwarted when James blocked an Andreas Schjelderup shot but Palmer was similarly frustrated by the impressive Silva at the other end. Chelsea carried their momentum into the second half but a Palmer cross was deflected away from goal by Nicolas Otamendi and Caicedo drove wide. Chelsea finally got the reward their superiority deserved as James chanced his arm from a set-piece on 64 minutes. The Blues skipper appeared to be lining up to cross from wide on the left but instead whipped a curling right-foot shot over the two-man wall and inside the near post. Benfica tried to respond and Evangelos Pavlidis appealed for a penalty after a tussle with Benoit Badiashile but nothing was given. Liam Delap put the ball in the net for Chelsea but was flagged offside. The game had largely been played in sweltering heat, but as a storm neared in the closing minutes, play was suspended. Chelsea's Christopher Nkunku scores his side's second goal (Nell Redmond/AP) It became the latest of a series of games in the tournament to be paused due to the weather. The players were pictured during the enforced break kicking a ball and exercising in the dressing room. The stoppage worked to Benfica's benefit as they won a penalty when Otamendi's nod down brushed the arm of Malo Gusto and was harshly ruled as a penalty. Di Maria made no mistake from the spot – his fourth successful penalty of the tournament – to force extra-time. Benfica were reduced to 10 men when Prestianni received a second booking for a foul on Levi Colwill. Chelsea took control and went close when Palmer had a shot saved by Trubin, but Sanchez needed to be alert to deny Di Maria moments later. Nkunku broke through when he struck at the second attempt after an initial effort was blocked by Otamendi and Neto and Dewsbury-Hall added gloss to the scoreline.
The Guardian
2 hours ago
- The Guardian
Tomos Williams injury leaves Farrell's Lions facing race to fill scrum-half slot
The British & Irish Lions are weighing up their scrum-half options after an injury to Tomos Williams that threatens to sideline the Welshman at the busiest stage of the squad's Australian tour. The head coach, Andy Farrell, said a decision on calling up a replacement would be made on Sunday, with Scotland's Ben White among the leading contenders to replace Williams at No 9. Williams contributed two tries in a fine all-round performance as the Lions eased to a 54-7 victory over Western Force but tweaked his left hamstring while diving over the line for his second score. It leaves the Lions with only two fit scrum-halves, one of whom – Jamison Gibson-Park – has been managing a strained glute muscle. Farrell said Gibson-Park would be fit to face the Queensland Reds on Wednesday but the Lions will need some cover if Williams is ruled out even for a short period, with Alex Mitchell as the only available option in the position. White has just arrived in New Zealand, where Scotland are due to kick off their summer tour against the Maori All Blacks next Saturday, and could easily hop on a plane to Brisbane if required. For the moment, Farrell is still waiting to learn the severity of the injury to Williams, the Premiership's player of the season with Gloucester. 'There was plenty of cramp last week, let's hope it is one of those,' said Farrell. 'He was playing well and I am sure there is a bit of concern there, but you can only deal with the here and now so fingers crossed.' Farrell, however, is adamant that there is no danger of Gibson-Park sitting out the Reds game. 'Jamison is fit and ready to go and has been training fully for the best part of a week. We are happy with that but we will only know [about Williams] in the morning. 'I don't what the timings are of that, with the flights, but you have to let these things settle down and give it a little bit of space. There is always something that is going to happen you are not quite sure about, that is the nature of the tour. We need to make the right call for the group.' Sir James Wates CBE has been appointed chair of the Rugby Football Union board. He takes over the role from Sir Bill Beaumont, who was named chair on an interim basis in December last year following the resignation of Tom Ilube. Wates is currently a board director of the Wates Group, a privately-owned construction, development and property service company in the UK and served as chairman between 2013 and 2023. PA Media Of their opening game in Australia, Farrell declared himself moderately satisfied with the result in the wake of the Lions' defeat by Argentina in Dublin last week. 'I am happy with the scoreline and how we got to that point because it wasn't always going our way. We fixed things up and played some good rugby and scored some nice tries.' Sign up to The Breakdown The latest rugby union news and analysis, plus all the week's action reviewed after newsletter promotion He was pleased, too, with the performances of Mack Hansen and the youthful Henry Pollock, despite the latter being sent to the sin-bin just before half-time. 'He got a yellow card because of repeated infringements, which was fair enough, but you saw his point of difference, that is for sure. He is learning all the time and there is plenty to work on to make sure we are the team we want to be. He is part of that.' Pollock also received a positive review from the Lions' captain for the day, Dan Sheehan. 'I thought he was brilliant today,' the Ireland hooker said. 'He does his own thing, he plays his own way which is probably different to a lot of the forwards. I enjoy that kind of rugby: off the cuff, see what's in front of you and make it happen. With his skillset and speed he can certainly make it happen. 'It is just about trying to make sure he is doing the right thing for the team all the time. All these big games are massive for him, massive for all of us. He will just get better and better from here.'
