LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Penrith Panthers caught a serve from NRL fans for a Las Vegas stunt that has ruffled feathers around Brian To'o, with some saying it's akin to rubbing salt in the wounds of the star winger's hamstring injury.
To'o was sidelined this week for the four-time defending premiers' NRL season opener against Cronulla in the United States, the final match in a Vegas extravaganza on Saturday (Sunday AEDT).
Despite the hamstring setback that prompted Penrith to shuffle their backline, To'o was spotted doing backflips, cartwheels, and breakdancing on stage during an official NRL fan event leading up to the weekend.
Supporters from all corners of the globe, including Australia, England, New Zealand, and America, flocked to the transformed Fremont Street precinct in Vegas, now a bustling hub for NRL broadcasts ahead of Sunday's showdown.
During the event, the emcees on stage decided to fuel the crowd's excitement by challenging each team to nominate their best dancer.
Jillaroos star Sarah Togatuki, along with Sharks duo Braydon Trindall and Will Kennedy, delivered crowd-pleasing performances.
However, many observers found it peculiar to witness To'o flaunting his dance skills, particularly given his injured hamstring and subsequent absence from the game.
Adding insult to injury, To'o nearly bungled a backflip landing, prompting concerns from onlookers.
Despite this, he continued his routine with a cavalier attitude, even feigning further hamstring distress before proving he was unharmed with more dance moves.
The backlash from fans was swift, as many questioned the wisdom of allowing an injured player to risk further injury by engaging in breakdancing on stage.
Comments flooded in on social media platforms, with one person asking incredulously, "Mate, as a Panthers supporter, shouldn't you be resting that hamstring?" Another warned, "What if he tore his ACL during this stunt?" while a third sarcastically pondered, "Is this his rehab plan?" accompanied by a laughing emoji.
A fourth chimed in, "Must be some magic hamstring if he can dance like that."