‘They’re heading in the right direction’: Sunia Turuva opens up on move to Wests Tigers, chases ‘last ride’ win with the Panthers

Panthers winger Sunia Turuva has explained his decision to join the Wests Tigers in 2025 and the role childhood idol Benji Marshall played in getting him to the club when it looked like the Dragons were in the box seat to sign him.

Last year’s Dally M Rookie of the Year will join the Tigers for the next three seasons, joining premiership stars Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris as the latest batch of Penrith players to move on.

After weeks of negotiations, Turuva eventually signed with the Tigers late last month, with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary giving him the night off in Townsville due to the emotional toll the process had taken on the Fijian star.

“I wasn’t too surprised. We had a good chat, things were just dragging on. It was good to get the decision over with and it was good to be back playing footy,” Turuva said.

“For me, I think it was a good thing to give me the week off. It would have kept dragging on if he didn’t, I’d still be in the decision mode now.”

His decision to join the Tigers came just six days after he scored two tries against them in Bathurst, with Turuva encouraged by what he’d seen from them this year after back-to-back wooden spoons.

The Tigers have hit the wall with five-straight losses, but Marshall’s leadership – and the arrival of Luai next year – has Turuva confident they are on track to turn things around.

“Watching their footy this year, you can tell they’re heading in the right direction,” he said.

“I know results haven’t been going their way, but they’ve been hanging in there for 80 minutes when in previous years they’ve given up.

“I can definitely see, from the outside looking in, that they’re heading in the right direction and that’s something that encouraged me to go with them.

“We had the chat after the game, they made us fight for it right to the end. The scoreboard might not have shown it, but they made us fight for it. I hadn’t decided by then, it wasn’t until coach gave me the week off.

“It was good not to focus on the footy and just focus on the contract, big ups to Iv for letting me have that week off to deal with that stuff.

“He (Marshall) was mad, he’s pretty chill, kicked back, a bit like ‘Iv’ (Cleary). I only met him that one time but he’s the same as Iv, a chill guy who will spray you when you need it. He retired not too long ago, so everything’s pretty fresh.”

Turuva, 21, confirmed that he would have signed a three-year deal with the Dragons if he hadn’t settled on the Tigers, and he’s not fussed about what position he plays in 2025 given fellow Fijian Jahream Bula has excelled at fullback.

He could have easily stayed with Penrith where he would have challenged for more premiership success, but he’s happy with his decision and has vowed to do all he can to leave with one more title.

“Like I touched on, the Tigers are heading in the right direction … they had a mad win over Parra a few weeks ago,” this year’s leading try-scorer said.

“I was talking to Api, Romey and Benji, I’ll have good people around me.

“Like everyone else who’s done it, the boys who have passed on, it’s the last ride, chasing that ring.”