Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

[weststigerman]

Wests Tigers are on the verge of landing Penrith premiership winner Sunia Turuva after swooping under the guard of St George Illawarra.
Turuva, off contract at the end of the year, had been in talks with the Dragons after suggestions the Panthers were reluctant to offer him more than $350,000 per season.

It means Turuva will reunite with fellow premiership winner Jarome Luai at the Tigers and become the second Panther to join the club in four months.

Turuva had indicated his preference was to remain at Penrith but salary cap restraints meant they were initially in no position to match what was on the offer elsewhere.

The Dragons were believed to be in the box seat to land Turuva and offered him a unique deal which would have been the highest offer on the table. The Dragons deal ranged between $400,000 to $600,000 with triggers in the contract if Turuva managed to secure the fullback spot.

However it now looks like the Tigers have moved to the front of the queue to secure the reigning Dally M rookie of the year, who has scored eight tries through six games this season.

Another potential move to fullback won’t happen at the Tigers. It is understood the Tigers have targeted Turuva to play in the centres and provide cover for superstar Jahream Bula at fullback.

Newcastle also showed an interest in the Fijian international after he toured the club’s facilities and met officials during the Panthers’ recent bye, however the Knights never tabled a formal offer.

His signing would be a coup for coach Benji Marshall and interim chief executive Shane Richardson, with Marshall having already led the chase for Luai.

Turuva scored Penrith’s opening two tries in their 22-6 win against the Tigers last Saturday.

He becomes the latest member of Penrith’s dynasty to depart the club as the salary cap bites. At the end of this season, he will join Luai and prop James Fisher-Harris in heading for the exit.

Turuva’s management met with Penrith officials last week and talks continued but the parties have been unable to come to an agreement for the 21-year-old.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/sport-confidential-sunia-turuva-tipped-to-join-wests-tigers-in-2025/news-story/3029015bc8f1caf96b8d6e3f5d735894?swipe=-1#swipe-b2dd82b8df93cd59c96784e6b7f0bf9084304586

Hmm didn’t Richo say if it’s in the papers the deal is off? Interesting week ahead.

 

[Tiger001]

.
Whether he plays centre or wing, 450k sounds like a good and fair price for him,

Panthers are smart,

hope they're not spending much more than 350k

 

[BAGNF05]

They have been on the right path woth the selections. Apart from maybe Stains amd a.tinkering of the forward pack they seem to pick who.we.would pick. Wasnt always the case with other coaches haha

I think it’s a bit unfair to blame previous coaches who all had a substandard roster at their disposal. Cleary over achieved and the rest just did their best. Richo understands we are 80% there with the roster and coaching shouldn’t even be discussed until we’re 100% there.

 

[BAGNF05]

We still need two hard running wingers. With Tupou going and Staines not cutting it, we need two players who can start our sets off well.

Centres can do this too nowadays.

 

[Spartan117]

Hmm didn’t Richo say if it’s in the papers the deal is off? Interesting week ahead.

Richo is allowing himself to be seen as The Man...

Good tactics when your negotiating a contract extension.

Richard is an genius...

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Hmm didn’t Richo say if it’s in the papers the deal is off? Interesting week ahead.

Which is why some people think the deal is already done. Can't end negotiations if they are already over and he is signed.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Centres can do this too nowadays.

Staines will look like a different player having a centre with the ability of Turuva inside him too.

 

[BAGNF05]

Richo is allowing himself to be seen as The Man...

Good tactics when your negotiating a contract extension.

Richard is an genius...

Good on him. You only had to watch his first press conference to understand his ability is not fake.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

We still need two hard running wingers. With Tupou going and Staines not cutting it, we need two players who can start our sets off well.

We definitely need to target 1 for next year, probably why the club is looking at cotric. I'd say we wouldn't sign a 2nd one until next year, Staines + Naden off contract at end of 2025 so if neither of them can make it their spot they'll pick up a 2nd for 2026.

 

[BAGNF05]

Staines will look like a different player having a centre with the ability of Turuva inside him too.

I’m not so sure. I’d have him in reserve grade rebuilding confidence. He looked shot last weekend.

 

[getagrip]

Makes sense. You can‘t have two jockey wingers.

Not sure about two jockey centres either.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

I’m not so sure. I’d have him in reserve grade rebuilding confidence. He looked shot last weekend.

He's had 3 different centres in 7 games and I can't think of a game where people came out thinking his centre played well.

I will agree that his redzone metres have lacked, but how about Faatapes, Nadens & Starford? No one has played well from his centre position.

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

Not sure about two jockey centres either.

Don't Panthers have both 2 Jockey centers & 2 Jockey wingers?

 

[getagrip]

Don't Panthers have both 2 Jockey centers & 2 Jockey wingers?

Yes. Hope we can be the second club it works for.

 

[innsaneink]

Whenever there was talk of us signing him... Or a forum member suggested it I always thought we'd be next to no chance... "why would he come here I ask myself"
Terrific if true!. I'll believe it when I see it.
Funny game this salary cap

 

[BAGNF05]

He's had 3 different centres in 7 games and I can't think of a game where people came out thinking his centre played well.

I will agree that his redzone metres have lacked, but how about Faatapes, Nadens & Starford? No one has played well from his centre position.

As a winger, your main jobs aren’t dictated by what your centre does. You choose to come in and do dirty hit ups, you choose to contest attacking kicks, you choose where you stand on backline shifts. I only saw Naden make him look silly once.

 

[clontarfkid]

We still need two hard running wingers. With Tupou going and Staines not cutting it, we need two players who can start our sets off well.

...plus finish well!

 

[FrodoTBaggin]

As a winger, your main jobs aren’t dictated by what your centre does. You choose to come in and do dirty hit ups, you choose to contest attacking kicks, you choose where you stand on backline shifts. I only saw Naden make him look silly once.

Sorry I was wrong 4 centres not 3. Naden only had 30 minutes and then was swapped to wing for Bateman to be his centre.

I don't recall Charlie having a problem contesting attacking kicks this season, in fact he would of scored the other week if he was a bit luckier with Sezers bounce.

His defence against Sivo won us the Eels game too btw.

 

[weststigerman]

Which is why some people think the deal is already done. Can't end negotiations if they are already over and he is signed.

If that is true then I’ll believe we have turned the corner. It definitely seems different because usually we’re the first team named whereas all the talk has been Newcastle and St George.

If we finally have someone who can get a deal done, we have to get Richo done long term.

 

[BAGNF05]

Sorry I was wrong 4 centres not 3. Naden only had 30 minutes and then was swapped to wing for Bateman to be his centre.

I don't recall Charlie having a problem contesting attacking kicks this season, in fact he would of scored the other week if he was a bit luckier with Sezers bounce.

His defence against Sivo won us the Eels game too btw.

Zac Lomax has probably created more tries from contesting kicks this year than our whole backline. It’s clearly an effort area that we need to be better at.