The Panthers have consistently found ways to stay motivated during the finals, and this year their driving force is the departure of key players. Winger Sunia Turuva confidently stated, “We’re not leaving here without a ring,” signaling their determination to secure a premiership before major roster changes hit.
Turuva and Jarome Luai are set to join the Wests Tigers next season, while front-rower James Fisher-Harris will head to the Warriors due to salary cap constraints. Penrith has experienced similar farewells before, with stars like Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau, and Api Koroisau leaving after winning premierships. This year, the Panthers hope to maintain that tradition, ensuring their departing players exit on a high note with another title.
Turuva shared that while the team tries to stay grounded, he, Romey (Jarome Luai), and Fish (James Fisher-Harris) are embracing the “last ride” mentality. “We’re not leaving without a ring,” Turuva emphasized.
His season has been a rollercoaster, starting with being dropped to reserve grade. The reigning Dally M Rookie of the Year accepted coach Ivan Cleary’s decision to demote him, acknowledging that he needed to address defensive lapses. In reserve grade, Turuva helped secure crucial points to sneak the team into the top five, showing significant improvement.
The turning point came in round 25 when Turuva teamed up with Paul Alamoti, returning from an arm injury. Together, they stunned the NSW Cup ladder leaders, Canberra, with a late try. Alamoti’s conversion sealed the thrilling 26-24 win, showcasing their chemistry and Turuva’s renewed form.
The duo is back in action on the left edge for the defending champions, with Turuva eager to build on his 16-try tally as they prepare to face Cronulla for a grand final berth.
Reflecting on his time in the NSW Cup, he shared, “When I was dropped to Cup, the team was still pushing for a top-five finish, so I didn’t want to sulk about it. I knew that regardless of playing in the Cup or the top grade, my job was to contribute to whichever team I was part of.”
He expressed his satisfaction with how things turned out: “It worked out well. Going down to Cup allowed me to refine my game. ‘Iv’ and I had some hard conversations this year, but I’m grateful he backed me and brought me back. We emphasize defense here, but I was letting in too many tries before. I went back to Cup, worked on my game with Paul, and got the chance to come back up alongside him, which feels great.”
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