Rookie of the year hits market with Panthers hamstrung by salary cap

Reigning NRL Dally M Rookie of the Year Sunia Turuva is set to sit down for contract negotiations with several rival clubs after the Panthers tabled him a short-changed deal worth around $350,000 a season.

While Penrith would love to keep the 21-year-old flyer, The Sporting Base has heard an ever-squeezing salary cap situation is keeping the club hamstrung in negotiations.

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Panthers powerbrokers are more than happy to keep Turuva if he takes the $350,000-a-year deal, but also understand he can earn more on the open market. It’s a pay-rise chance Turuvua and his management have already identified; they’ve reached out to several clubs in the past few days to gauge early interest.

If possible, The Sporting Base understands, the Fijian international wants to play fullback.

He is also asking for closer to $500,000 a year from his early suitors.

There has been little chat around NRL circles about possible landing spots, but the St George Illawarra Dragons have been keeping a quiet eye on unfolding negotiations, as have the Canterbury Bulldogs.

Whichever club eventually bags Turuva’s signature, it will be a big boost. The 21-year-old has been learning in the Panthers system for some time now and has already spent time playing number one for Fiji at the 2022 World Cup in the U.K. While that was just a six-game run, the Panthers winger shone in the playmaking role.

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If Turuvua does leave for more money he will join a long line walking out the Penrith door, including Matt Burton, Viliame Kikau, Stephen Crichton, and Jarome Luai most recently.

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