Fiji Bati fullback Sunia Turuva wrapped up his season with the Penrith Panthers on a high note, scoring an important try that helped the defending champions achieve their fourth consecutive title victory. The Panthers triumphed with a 14-6 victory over the Melbourne Storm in the Grand Final.
Turuva, who will be joining the Wests Tigers for the upcoming season, made an immediate impact by scoring the first try for the Panthers in the final. Although the Storm initially took a 6-0 lead thanks to a try from Harry Grant, Turuva’s unconverted try in the 26th minute reduced the deficit to 6-4.
The Panthers kept up their attacking play, and just before halftime, Liam Martin scored a try off a clever pass from Nathan Cleary, giving the Panthers a 10-6 lead at the break.
In the second half, Paul Alamoti added an unconverted try, further extending the lead for the defending champions and bringing them closer to another title. Despite the Storm’s persistent efforts in the second half, the Panthers’ strong defense held up until the final whistle, securing their victory and highlighting Turuva’s significant contribution to their successful title defense.