LeagueNews.co | Jason Patrick
The Dragons are facing a contract conundrum with Zac Lomax, and the saga has taken an interesting turn with the emergence of Sunia Turuva on their radar.
St George Illawarra coach Shane Flanagan is gearing up for a potential life without Lomax, giving him the green light to explore opportunities with other clubs beyond 2025.
However, the Dragons are standing firm that they won't contribute to his hefty $800,000 annual salary.
Flanagan has already compiled a list of potential replacements, with Turuva, the Dally M Rookie of the Year, topping the list.
Turuva has hit the market after failing to reach a new deal with the Panthers, sparking interest from the Red V.
In a surprising twist, Flanagan has also discussed a possible code switch with Wallabies star Jordan Petaia as part of their contingency plan, according to reports from The Sydney Morning Herald.
Reports suggest that the Panthers offered Turuva a $350,000 per season contract, but the winger is open to exploring other options, particularly from NRL rivals who can sweeten the deal with a higher salary.
Despite his desire to stay with Penrith, Turuva is keeping his options open for a more lucrative offer.
Meanwhile, Panthers coach Ivan Cleary remains hopeful that Turuva will stay at the club, but admits uncertainty about the ongoing negotiations.
With recent contract extensions for other players like Taylan May, Izack Tago, and Paul Alamoti, Penrith is juggling multiple negotiations, including talks with hooker Mitch Kenny, who is also on the Dragons' radar.
The plot thickens as both clubs navigate the complex world of player contracts in the world of Rugby League.