Only Way to Go”: Departing Trio Vows to Leave with Premiership Ring..

In a determined show of unity, departing Penrith stars Jarome Luai, James Fisher-Harris, and Sunia Turuva have made a pact: “We won’t leave here without a ring. There’s no other way to leave this place.” Their goal is to secure an historic fourth consecutive premiership before moving on at the end of the season.

Since their championship run began, the Panthers have seen several players depart, including Matt Burton, Paul Momirovski, Kurt Capewell, Tyrone May, Viliame Kikau, Api Koroisau, Charlie Staines, Stephen Crichton, Spencer Leniu, Jaeman Salmon, and Jack Cogger. All eleven of these former Panthers left with a premiership ring, and Luai, Fisher-Harris, and Turuva are determined to achieve the same as they prepare to face Cronulla in their fifth consecutive preliminary final at Accor Stadium.

“For us, the mindset is that we won’t leave here without a ring,” Turuva stated. “Critta, Spennie, Api, and Kiks all left on a high, and that’s what we want too. Talking with ‘Romey’ about it, it would be huge to finish here on a high note. There’s no other way to leave this place.”

Luai and Fisher-Harris have both played crucial roles in each of Penrith’s grand final victories, while Turuva, who won his first premiership last year, understands the importance of seizing this opportunity. He is set to join Luai at Wests Tigers, where Koroisau and Staines currently play, while Fisher-Harris will return to New Zealand to play alongside Capewell at the Warriors.

“It’s massive for me, having one finals series under my belt, to know what’s coming,” Turuva said. “Finals is a different ball game—there are no second chances, so we have to be at our best every week.”

Turuva established himself on the Panthers’ right wing last year but faced challenges in the 2024 season while sorting out his future. The 22-year-old Fiji international was initially targeted by the Dolphins but felt a strong loyalty to Penrith, especially after the club supported him and his family following a house fire in 2020 and the loss of his mother, Salote, a year later.

However, the chance to join Luai and Koroisau, who is also his first cousin, at Wests Tigers proved too appealing to turn down. The decision was so significant that Panthers coach Ivan Cleary chose to rest Turuva for a Round 8 match against the Cowboys while he finalized a three-year deal with the Tigers.

“Myself and Coach Cleary discussed getting my future sorted because it was weighing me down,” Turuva explained. “He highlighted how it could take an emotional toll on players. I had conversations with my family as well because this place is home, given everything the club has done for me. It was good to get it settled.”

Fellow Panthers winger Brian To’o acknowledged the mixed emotions surrounding Turuva, Luai, and Fisher-Harris’s departures. “We’re obviously going to be emotional about it, but there’s also happiness for them,” To’o said. “They’re heading off to bigger and better things next year, but right now, we just want to make the most of it and hopefully send them off with a premiership.”