Sunia Turuva will explore his options at rival clubs.Credit:Steven Siewert/Sydney Morning Herald
Penrith,who have also extended back-up centre Paul Alamoti’s contract in recent weeks,want to keep Turuva at the club but salary cap limitations have brought negotiations to a halt with the Panthers unwilling to spend more than $350,000 a season.
Turuva’s agent Mark Stewart recently met with the club to inform Penrith he would now seek expressions of interest and offers from rival clubs before returning to the Panthers to see if they can get closer to what he believes is his value on the open market.
Turuva is expected to attract offers of close to $500,000-a-season on the open market and could be squeezed out of Penrith as a result.
The Panthers are comfortable with the plan,having previously adopted a similar strategy with other players who have come back to the club with their best offers from rival teams.
Sunia Turuva with his Dally M Rookie of the Year award in 2023.Credit:Getty
Penrith couldn’t match offers on the table for Viliame Kikau (Bulldogs) and Jarome Luai (Tigers) and both signed elsewhere with the club’s blessing.
Turuva spent most of his junior football playing fullback in the Panthers’ lower grades and will be offered up to rival clubs as a potential No.1 option,having also represented Fiji in the role at the 2022 World Cup in the United Kingdom.