LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
'They're moving in the right direction': Sunia Turuva talks about his move to Wests Tigers, chasing a 'last ride' win with the Panthers
He could have stuck around in the golden west to chase more titles, but Sunia Turuva can sense something brewing in Tiger Town.
Panthers winger Sunia Turuva recently shared his reasoning behind joining the Wests Tigers in 2025, highlighting the influence of childhood hero Benji Marshall in bringing him to the club amidst strong interest from the Dragons.
The reigning Dally M Rookie of the Year is set to link up with the Tigers for the next three seasons, following in the footsteps of premiership champions Jarome Luai and James Fisher-Harris in making the move from Penrith.
After prolonged negotiations, Turuva officially inked his deal with the Tigers in the waning days of last month, with Panthers coach Ivan Cleary giving him some time off in Townsville to recover from the draining ordeal.
"I wasn't entirely caught off guard.
We had some good chats, but things were taking forever.
It was a relief to finally make a decision and get back to playing footy," Turuva remarked.
"Getting that week off was a smart move.
If I hadn't, I'd likely still be stuck in decision mode right now."
His choice to join the Tigers came swiftly after scoring two tries against them in Bathurst, fueling Turuva's optimism about their progress this season following consecutive wooden spoons.