Though teammates now in the hunt for a premiership ring, Sunia Turuva and Paul Alamoti were rivals just two years ago in an unforgettable NSW Cup grand final between the Panthers and Bulldogs. In that clash, Penrith, led by J’maine Hopgood, narrowly defeated Canterbury 29-22. Turuva made a major impact, opening the scoring and securing the game-winning try with six minutes left at CommBank Stadium.
At the time, Turuva had only played three NRL games, while Alamoti, then just 18, had yet to make his first-grade debut. Since then, both players’ careers have evolved, with Alamoti moving from Canterbury to join the reigning premiers, where he now plays alongside Turuva, who will be heading to the Wests Tigers in 2025.
Reflecting on their past, Alamoti said, “Some of the boys were teasing us about that grand final. It was pretty crazy watching it back and seeing what Turuva was like two years ago, and also seeing how far I’ve come since then.”
Turuva couldn’t help but laugh when reminded of the grand final but quickly praised Alamoti, who played a key role in the team’s preliminary final win over the Sharks, scoring a crucial double.
“We were watching the highlights last week, and he was there with us, so it was pretty funny to see,” said Sunia Turuva, the lively winger. “It’s great to see how far he’s come since last year, and it’s going to be really special to run out with him for his first grand final.”
Turuva also praised Alamoti’s professionalism behind the scenes, noting, “People forget how young he is. They don’t see how dedicated he is with things like ice baths and stretching. We played against each other in Cup and then alongside each other, so being here now is pretty special.”
While Turuva is chasing his second premiership ring in as many years, it’s uncharted territory for Alamoti, who was once seen as a rising star at the Bulldogs but lost favor and left the club after just one season. Despite the pressures of grand final week, Alamoti is embracing the moment.
“I’m definitely starting to feel it because there’s a lot happening during grand final week,” the powerful young center admitted. “I knew what I was getting into, so there are nerves, but they’re good nerves. I don’t want to shy away from these emotions because not everyone gets to experience this. I’m embracing it and seeing it as a positive because it really is.”
For Sunia Turuva, the upcoming game against the Storm will mark his final appearance for Penrith before he departs to join the Wests Tigers. Reflecting on his journey with the Panthers, the Fijian star recalled how it all began.
“I remember my manager calling me a few years ago saying they wanted me to come in for a pre-season,” he shared. “That was really exciting, and then a few weeks in, they signed me to a development deal. My mum got really emotional and started crying.”
For Turuva, being able to support his family has been a huge motivator. “Family is the biggest thing for me, so being able to help them out is pretty cool,” he said.
As for leaving Penrith, Turuva admitted it hasn’t fully hit him yet. “It probably won’t sink in until after the game when it’s all over, and I’m looking around at friends, family, and the boys around me. Knowing it’s coming to an end is pretty sad.”