For reasons only he could possibly explain, Brian To'o thought it likely an Uber Eats delivery driver was calling him midway through a church service on Sunday morning.
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While the Penrith winger says he never usually looks at his phone during service, he figured this weekend with State of Origin teams about to be named it might be worth making an exception.
"The pastor was preaching amongst the kids. I was just sitting there and he just started (talking to us) as well," To'o told AAP.
"Right before he was about to preach my phone goes off. I could just hear it vibrating. It wasn't too loud, but I could hear it.
"I quickly ran outside. It had no name on it, so I thought it was like Uber Eats or something."
Needless to say it was NSW coach Brad Fittler, delivering news better than any meal.
"When I answered he said it was Freddy. And I was like 'bro, no way'," To'o said.
"It's just crazy man."
For months, the 22-year-old has been mooted as a potential option for NSW.
But never once did To'o or his partner Moesha let him believe he would be debuting for the Blues this year.
"I never thought I'd be picked. I didn't really think about Origin at all," To'o said.
"All my family and friends had been sending me screenshots of the teams and stuff like that.
"But my missus is always telling me don't worry about it.
"She was the first one I told (on Sunday), straight away.
"She was at church and she came down off the stage from singing and saying 'I'm singing, what are you doing'?
"So I told her I had made the Blues and straight away she started getting teary. She was so happy.
"My whole family is really thrilled."
The slight on To'o had always been that he is too short, and he could become a liability under the high ball.
But what he lacks in height, he makes up for in power.
The Penrith junior has averaged an astronomical 236 metres per game this year, putting him on track to break Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's NRL record from 2015.
To'o also leads all wingers for tackle busts with five per game.
But it is his defence that has impressed Fittler most, having missed just six tackles all year as Penrith have conceded an NRL-low five tries on his left edge.
"A few teams have tried to pick on him but I don't think anyone has scored from jumping over him," Panthers captain and NSW halfback Nathan Cleary said.
Australian Associated Press
