LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Ivan Cleary has shed some light on why Sunia Turuva was given the boot for the Penrith Panthers' clash against the Melbourne Storm, and his response was as cryptic as a codebreaker trying to crack the defense.
The head coach's last-minute change saw Dylan Edwards make a triumphant return at fullback after nursing an injury suffered during the State of Origin finale.
Edwards' comeback was expected, but Cleary threw a curveball by shifting Daine Laurie to the wing and benching the Fijian speedster to 18th-man duties.
While there were rumors swirling about Turuva's fitness, Cleary brushed aside any whispers, claiming that the decision was purely strategic.
"I just thought it was the best thing for the team," Cleary remarked in the post-game interview, sounding like a seasoned captain willing to make the tough calls for the sake of victory.
Whether Turuva will bounce back or remain sidelined remains to be seen, but Cleary's enigmatic move sent shockwaves through the rugby league community like a cracking kick-off.