SAD NEWS:Panthers coach Ivan Cleary reveals true reason for
Sunia Turuva was ruled out of Saturday night’s NRL match against the Cowboys due to an emotional toll that the winger’s contract negotiations had taken, according to Panthers coach Ivan Cleary.
The Wests Tigers announced earlier this week that they had signed the 21-year-old to a three-year contract worth an estimated $100 million. The Fijian international, who has participated in 35 Panthers games since making his first-grade debut in 2024, will attend Concord the following season with colleague Jarome Luai.
Turuva was dismissed from the team and replaced by new recruit Paul Alamoti just hours before Penrith defeated the Cowboys 26–20 in Townsville. Cleary later acknowledged that Turuva’s removal was brought on by his contract predicament.