Penrith Panthers tie down promising duo to new deals

Penrith Panthers have locked in rising stars Lindsay Smith and Sunia Turuva on new contracts for the next two seasons.

Smith, 22, made his NRL debut for the Panthers against Wests Tigers in Round 13 last season. He is a former Australian Schoolboys representative.

He said: “Being a Penrith junior, I’ve always aspired to play for the club, so it’s obviously exciting to re-sign for another two years.

“Everyone at the club is working towards the same goal and it’s something I want to be a part of.”

Meanwhile, the Panthers say Turuva, 19, received offers from other NRL clubs but wanted to stay at Penrith. He has been a key player for the club’s NSW Cup team this year.

Turuva said: “Panthers obviously means a lot to me. I came through the juniors at the club and I’ve played all my footy here.

“I’m proud to pull on a Panthers jersey and I’m excited to be staying here for another two seasons.”

Smith will remain part of Penrith’s first team until the end of 2024. Turuva will be promoted to the club’s top 30 squad for the next two years.

Panthers chief executive Matt Cameron said: “The re-signings of Sunia and Lindsay are great examples of the built from within culture we have cultivated at Panthers.

“Both of these players were developed through the Panthers system. It’s great to see these local juniors commit to the club for the next two seasons.

“Sunia has overcome a number of hurdles over the past few years, yet he has embraced hard work, and epitomises many of the club values at Panthers.

“Lindsay is a quality young man, who is dedicated towards his rugby league career, and I look forward to seeing his game grow over the coming years.”

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