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One is a Harry Potter-loving country boy from the Riverina. The other is a Coke Zero-guzzling anime fan from Sydney's west. Together NSW wingers Zac Lomax and Brian To'o have formed a lethal combination on the field and an unlikely bromance off it.
The pair come from vastly different backgrounds, with Lomax growing up in the sleepy town of Temora. To'o is a proud St Marys junior with Samoan and Chinese heritage.
The most obvious difference between the two is their size, but that hasn't stopped them developing into a key pillar in the NSW team.
The duo helped lay the foundation for the Blues victory in the series opener at Suncorp Stadium and they will again be crucial in Wednesday night's Game Two at Optus Stadium.
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All of Brian To'o's 225 metres!
While the physical differences quickly jump out, Lomax said it didn't take long for the pair to identify their shared interests and values.
"Brian's a larrikin but he's an unbelievable player," Lomax told NRL.com. "For the two of us we're a little team inside our team where we want to be the best we can be at the back of the field and at the other end, finishing off tries the best we can.
"We're not making too many tackles so that's how we repay our teammates. It's at the back of the field and on the attacking end doing our thing. That's where we pride ourselves on helping our halves and middles get into the cycle the best they can."
Match: Maroons v Blues
Game 2 -
home Team
Maroons
away Team
Blues
Venue: Optus Stadium, Perth
While nearly 20 centimetres and 10 kilograms separate the pair, Lomax and To'o are equally effective on both ends of the field.
To'o helped revolutionise the winger position, emerging as a physical player willing to take the tough carries early in a set. Lomax has followed suit since making his NSW debut last year, with the duo putting the side on the front foot in last month's series opener.
The pair finished the game with a combined 434 running metres and a mammoth 150 post-contact metres. They also scored three of the Blues' four tries and helped shut down the Maroons defensively.
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Inside Camp: Brian To'o
Lomax put the team first when he offered to switch sides while To'o was in the sin bin as the Blues worked to shut down giant Queensland winger Xavier Coates.
To'o doesn't hesitate to describe himself as weird, with his unusual gameday rituals and a desire to one day have 30 children.
That, however, hasn't stopped the 26-year-old from forming a close friendship with his fellow winger throughout the past two Origin campaigns. It's a relationship, he feels, that has helped get the best out of the pair on the field.
"He's the perfect build for a winger," To'o told NRL.com. "I'm in a different physical category. He's a tremendous athlete, he's a team player and he does his job really well.
"He's come a long way to earn his spot in the Blues team and he's sky-rocketed since he's put on the jersey. I'm always getting tips on how to catch high balls and I'm really proud of him.
"He's a great player but he's an even better friend. He's always caring and looking out for the boys and good for a chat."
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Brian To'o with an Origin double
Blues teammates laugh when asked about the personalities of the two wingers, with the word 'different' repeatedly popping up.
Lomax is a quiet and reserved individual who often keeps to himself while To'o is an outgoing person who loves to play practical jokes on his teammates.
Their game-day preparation is also poles apart, with To'o famously consuming six Coke Zeroes, two breakfast burgers, a bowl of chips and a coffee before matches. Lomax has been described by many as the ultimate professional who will go to great lengths to prepare his body for football.
Centre Stephen Crichton has known To'o since they were teenagers, while he will line up on the right edge alongside Lomax at Optus Stadium on Wednesday night.
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Zac Lomax outstanding again in blue
"They're totally different people," Crichton said. "Lomax is more chill around the boys, but Bizza is always taking the mickey out of someone.
"One thing they have in common is they're hardworking. Body size and height doesn't matter for them, they're going through you regardless of who's standing in front of them."
A scare was thrown through NSW camp last week when Brian To'o sat out Thursday's opposed session due to a hamstring niggle.
The winger has been meticulous with his rehab work over the past few days and steadily increased the training load.
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Daley on team updates
To'o has long been viewed among the toughest men in the NRL, famously playing through an ankle injury in the 2021 grand final and overcoming a knee injury early in last year's decider to help Penrith claim four-straight premierships.
Blues coach Laurie Daley declared the winger was fit to play at Tuesday's pre-game press conference.
Lomax has enjoyed a much smoother preparation for Wednesday's game and arrived in Perth determined to help NSW wrap up the State of Origin series.
With To'o in the clear, the only thing left is for the Blues brothers to lead their state to victory.
"It's funky but it works," Lomax concludes. "We both pride ourselves on doing similar things and that's working hard."