GOLD TALKS: Pat O’Toole on His Season-Opening Performance & NOLA Gold’s Momentum

An exclusive interview with Pat O’Toole

The 2025 Major League Rugby season is off to an electrifying start for NOLA GOLD, and hooker Pat O’Toole wasted no time making an impact. With two tries and his 50th MLR cap for NOLA under his belt, O’Toole played a pivotal role in the team’s dominant season-opening win.

Catch up with him to discuss the home-opener victory, the team’s mindset under new head coach Danny Lee, and how they’re gearing up for their next challenge against the Miami Sharks.

Q: Pat, congratulations on your performance in the season-opener win! How did scoring two tries and getting your 50th MLR cap with NOLA Gold feel?

Pat O’Toole: It was great! My 70th MLR cap and my 50th MLR cap for NOLA. It was a shame they didn’t let me keep my third try, but starting the season with a win was great.

Q: How was it experiencing this first win with new head coach Danny Lee?

Pat O’Toole: Fantastic! It’s nice that everything’s slotting into place well, and it’s looking good for the rest of the season.

Q: Your second try came right after halftime and really set the tone for the second half. What was going through your mind as you crossed the line?

Pat O’Toole: I think the boys in front of me setting the tone in the maul was really helpful, and for us to continue that dominance up front was great. It just felt like it would continue like that for the rest of the day.

Q: It seemed like the team was in complete control throughout the game. How do you think they maintained such dominance?

Pat O’Toole: It seemed like we had a good handle on the set piece. It was a little unfortunate that we didn’t manage to put more points on the board because it felt like we had more control than that showed. It’s just about reassessing what we did and preparing for Miami this week. It will be a completely different challenge, and we must try to put the same foot forward when we play this week.

Q: You’ve been with NOLA Gold for a while now. How does this early-season win feel compared to previous seasons? What makes this year different for you and the team?

Pat O’Toole: Obviously, it’s great to start the season off with a win. That hasn’t happened for us every other year. We’re just hoping we can keep that momentum going early on. We still have some new players who haven’t played yet, but we’re generally doing well as a squad. Hopefully, our new guys will integrate well, and we keep the train rolling.

Q: The team scored four tries in the first half alone, but what do you think allowed NOLA Gold to break through so effectively against Anthem Rugby Carolina’s defense?

Pat O’Toole: I think it was our patience. We held onto the ball early on, played the possession game, didn’t do anything silly, and didn’t throw away the ball. We were patient, and when the cracks came, we took our chances.

Q: With the upcoming game against the Miami Sharks, how do you plan to keep up the momentum? Are there any specific areas you’re focusing on for improvement?

Pat O’Toole: This week presents a new challenge. Miami has a strong kicking game, so that’s something we’re looking at combatting differently. We need to bring the same set-piece dominance, which will set us up for success.

Q: What does the day after a match look like for you?

Pat O’Toole: Pretty stagnant! I move my body slowly and get moving a little bit to shake off the soreness and prepare for the following week.

Q: After a big win like this, how does the team stay grounded for the next match?

Pat O’Toole: It’s early days, and there’s nothing to celebrate until we get a better lead. For us, it’s about thinking about the next job and not looking too far down the road, just take it week by week.

Rapid fire questions

If you could swap places with any teammate for a day, who would it be and why?

Paul Mullen—to see how many meatballs he eats in a day.

What’s your favorite post-game food?

It’s gotta be a greasy burger!

Do you have any superstitions?

None at all.

If your team had a theme song, what would it be and why?

That’s tough. That’s been something we’ve been struggling to come up with. As the season continues, we’ll have to choose one.

With a strong start to the season, NOLA Gold sets the tone for what promises to be an exciting year. Pat O’Toole’s leadership and performance on the field are clear indicators that this team is ready to make a statement. But the focus now shifts to the next challenge—Miami.

Stay tuned for more exclusive Gold Talk interviews as we follow NOLA GOLD’s journey through the season! Plus, don’t miss out on the action—get your tickets now and cheer on NOLA GOLD at their next home match on March 22!

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