Fiji Bati fullback Sunia Turuva wrapped up his season with the Penrith Panthers on a high note, playing a key role in a critical try that helped the defending champions secure their fourth consecutive title. The Panthers triumphed with a 14-6 victory over the Melbourne Storm in the Grand Final.
Turuva made an immediate impact by scoring the first try for the Panthers in the final, despite the Storm initially taking a 6-0 lead with a try from Harry Grant. Turuva’s unconverted try in the 26th minute narrowed the deficit to 6-4.
The Panthers maintained their attacking thrust, and just before halftime, Liam Martin capitalized on a clever pass from Nathan Cleary to score a try, allowing them to go ahead 10-6 at the break. In the second half, Paul Alamoti added an unconverted try, extending the lead as the defending champions moved closer to another title.
Although the Storm continued to press in the second half, the Panthers’ steadfast defense held strong until the final whistle, securing their victory and underscoring Turuva’s significant contribution to their successful title defense.