Panthers star’s premiership ring promise

The Panthers have always been able to find some sort of motivation in the finals, and this year it’s all about Penrith’s departing players, with winger Sunia Turuva declaring “we’re not leaving here without a ring”.

Turuva and Jarome Luai will join the Wests Tigers next year, while inspirational front-rower James Fisher-Harris is off to the Warriors as salary cap pressures hit the premiers again.

The Panthers have had to say goodbye to guys like Stephen Crichton, Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau over the years, with the superstars all leaving the golden west with premiership glory.

“We try not to buy into it too much because you can lose your head, but me, Romey (Luai) and Fish (Fisher-Harris) are embracing that last ride thing,” Turuva said.

“We’re not leaving here without a ring.”

Turuva has endured an up-and-down season. The reigning Dally M Rookie of the Year was dropped to reserve grade where he helped them pick up three crucial points against the top teams to sneak into the top five.

It was a fall from grace for a man who achieved so much in 2023 and capped it off with a grand final win, but he accepts coach Ivan Cleary made the right call to drop him so he could fix up some defensive issues that had crept into his game.

The move worked as he combined well with Paul Alamoti, who was returning from an arm injury, with the pair linking up to score a stunning late try to shock NSW Cup ladder leaders Canberra in round 25, with Alamoti’s conversion sealing the 26-24 win.

The pair are now back together on the left edge for the premiers, with Turuva looking to add to his 16 tries when they face Cronulla for a spot in the grand final.

“When I went back to Cup, they were still fighting for a top-five spot, so I wasn’t going to be kicking stones,” he said.

“I knew whether I was playing NSW Cup or first grade that I just had to play my part for the team, whichever one I was in.

“I’m just glad that everything worked out the way that it did. I was able to go down to Cup and work on my game.

“‘Iv’ and I have a had a few tough chats this year, but I’m glad that he’s backed me and gave me the call to come back up.

“We pride ourselves on defence here, but I was leaking a few too many tries.

“I went back to Cup and worked on my game alongside Paul and got the call-up with him which is cool.”