LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
In a classic move reminiscent of a last minute field goal attempt, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary has spilled the beans on why Sunia Turuva was a surprise omission against the Cowboys, after a week full of drama for the young winger.
According to reports from news.com.au, Cleary revealed that Turuva was left out of Saturday evening's NRL clash due to the emotional toll of contract negotiations.
The Wests Tigers recently announced the signing of the 21-year-old for a hefty three-year deal worth $1.3 million, leading to a bittersweet departure from the Panthers.
With 35 games under his belt since his debut in 2022, the Fiji international will be joining forces with teammate Jarome Luai at Concord next season.
But just hours before Penrith's 26-20 triumph over the Cowboys in Townsville, Turuva was sidelined and replaced by new recruit Paul Alamoti, as Cleary openly admitted that the contract saga had taken its toll on the young player.
"Sunia's absence was directly related to his contract negotiations and the emotional strain it had caused," Cleary explained during the post-match press conference.
"It's been a lingering issue for a few weeks now, and people might not fully grasp how draining such a big decision can be, especially for a young man like Sunia."
As the Rugby League world digests this revelation, one thing is clear - in the game of contracts and negotiations, emotions can often be just as influential as physical prowess on the field.