“Turuva eagerly volunteers for Blues selection, calling it a lifelong aspiration.”
Fiji Bati sensation Sunia Turuva has expressed his desire to represent NSW in the upcoming State of Origin series, backed by his Panthers teammates who urge new Blues coach Michael Maguire to consider him. At just 21 years old, Turuva shares the NRL’s top try scorer position with Brisbane’s Reece Walsh, showcasing his potential for the Blues with nine tries in eight games for Penrith. Despite representing Fiji in six Tests, Turuva, originally from Sydney, honed his skills with the Berala Bears in junior rugby league before ascending through the ranks of the Panthers’ development system, earning the NRL Rookie of the Year award in 2022.
“Turuva emphasized the significance of Origin representation, expressing his lifelong aspiration to wear the NSW jersey. While proud of his Fijian heritage, he views Origin as a distinct honor tied to his roots. With the NRL’s widespread enthusiasm for the series, Turuva acknowledges the game’s national spotlight. Despite stiff competition for wing positions, including strong contenders like To’o, Addo-Carr, Lomax, and Suaali’I, Turuva’s Panthers teammates advocate for his inclusion, highlighting his reliability under pressure and impressive running stats this season.”
“Jarome Luai, Penrith’s playmaker, advocates for Turuva’s Origin eligibility, citing his roots in NSW through junior footy and birth. Luai maintains faith in the jersey’s choice of player but believes Turuva would excel in the Origin arena. Despite his impending move to Wests Tigers, where he’ll join forces with Luai, Turuva remains focused on aiding the Panthers in their quest for a fourth consecutive premiership, aiming for personal and team success after last year’s grand final triumph over Brisbane.”
“I’ve been completely focused on my role at Penrith, striving to improve my game here,” Turuva stated. “My priority is to maintain consistency and string together consecutive strong performances.” Turuva’s NRL journey began in 2022, followed by representing Fiji at the World Cup in England. His opportunity arose in the Penrith lineup after Taylan May’s injury last season. With Nathan Cleary sidelined due to a hamstring injury and Brad Schneider also nursing a knee injury, Turuva expressed confidence in rookie Jack Cole’s ability to step up in their absence for the upcoming match against the Warriors. Despite the loss of key teammates, Turuva remains optimistic, acknowledging Cleary’s unfortunate luck this season while endorsing Cole’s capabilities, citing his reliability, defensive prowess, and attacking skill set.
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