Sunia Turuva_S Take On Faith Loss And Moving On From Penrith

Hey guys, welcome back to Ebbs and Flows, where we talk about the highs and lows on and off the field.

Man of the moment, Asunio Teruva, what's up, baby?

Nah, not much, right? Just chilling, chilling.

So, first ever podcast?

Yeah, yeah. It's good to be here, bro.

Excited?

Nervous? Yeah, excited, bro.

Bro, it's funny, we were talking about this before, like, when you get the boys outside, they're always chill.

They're always just like, it's like footy chat, you know what I mean?

As soon as they jump in the chair, like...

Bit of a mic-y, don't know what to say.

The lights all around.

So, bro, thanks for jumping on there. I appreciate it.

Nah, I appreciate it, bro.

Straight off the bat, just signed for the West Tigers.

It's been a crazy couple of weeks for you.

What was that whole experience like for you?

Nah, yeah, it was a bit frustrating at the time, like dragging out for a couple of weeks.

But yeah, I'm just glad it's over now.

See where my future's at and just get to focus on this year for now and see where this year takes us.

Why the Tigers?

A few things.

I don't know.

I just said...

I see their growth this year.

I know they haven't won the games that they would have wanted to, but you can definitely see the positives in them.

Like the Paragame a couple of weeks ago that they got up when Galvin got sent.

I know.

Wouldn't have seen that in them last year or two years ago.

And even guys like Uppie there, who's in my ears, were all to get over.

Nah, it's good.

It's good.

I see it in them.

I didn't know that you and Uppie were actually first cousins.

So, what's that relationship been like?

What was it like as a kid and how proud are you seeing him now as like the captain he is?

Yeah, no, it's massive.

Yeah, like I touched on, like we touched on out there, he's, I know it was a big bully to me and my brother and his brother, like, but yeah, seeing, seeing how far he's come, you know, he's been, he's been through a fair bit himself.

So, yeah, I'm just, I'm pretty excited.

Another, another key, like thing for me, like to go over was to play with him.

Now he's in the back end, back end of his career.

So, let's try and couple, catch a couple games with him before he heads over.

Yeah, that's for sure.

Obviously, I grew up watching Benji, me personally.

He was like an idol for me.

What was like, and I got to interview him one time and even now, bro, I was like, he came into this office here, right here.

And I was like, oh, fuck.

Even though I played against him, I still thought he was a man.

It was like having conversations with him.

Bro, it's just saying, yeah, like he's over there and I'm here and he's just, he's talking to me and I'm like, I wasn't even hearing what he was saying.

I was just thinking about all these, like, he's highlights and that.

Bro, it was crazy.

Nah, but he's the man.

Yeah, I just met him that one time, bro.

The way he was talking, he was like similar to Ive in a way, like real chill.

Nah, he's the man, yeah.

What about the other side of it?

Saying goodbye to Penrith.

It's a club that you've grown up to love.

You guys obviously had great success, got your ring now.

Yeah.

What was that experience like?

Nah, it was tough.

It was tough.

Had a few tough conversations.

The boys closest to me.

Even with family members, like they, I don't know, I think we all thought that I was just going to be at Penrith for life sort of thing.

But yeah, at the end of the day, everyone was pretty excited.

They were just happy it was over because the contract talks were over.

But yeah, it was pretty tough at the end.

Did you have any other deals on the go?

Like other, like.

Other clubs?

Clubs, yeah.

Like everyone knew the Dragons were coming in hard.

Knights and then, yeah, Tigers and Penrith as well, so.

Just not really keen to leave the area?

Yeah, that was it.

I think it would have been like hard for myself.

You know, just trying to help my family out as well, like with dad and my brothers.

Yeah, I just want to stay close to family.

Who was the hardest person to tell at Penrith?

Was it Ivan?

Because I was like, Ivan's a little bit awkward.

Yeah.

Like, you know, you can sit in those conversations with him and he doesn't give you too much.

He's been around.

He's been around.

He understands the game now.

Was it telling your boys or was it addressing the team?

What was the moment that hit the hardest?

Yeah, probably telling the boys.

Like the squad.

Yeah.

I was full of telling myself, like, I was going to be sweet.

Like the whole morning, like leading up to it.

But, yeah, I full of like got up there.

I couldn't even speak.

Like, just emotional as.

No, yeah, that was probably the hardest bit.

Knowing that, like you touched on, I've won a ring with these guys.

Been with them like the last four or five years.

But, yeah, I just, like, big ups to the club.

Even Ive, like, we came to a mutual agreement.

Like, he just, he was supportive of the whole thing.

So, you know.

So, do you reckon you guys can win four in a row?

Yeah.

Yeah, 100 percent.

I know just the way the boys just turn up.

Like, I know you hear every, every time.

But the way, like, the boys just turn up to training.

Everyone just came, came to train pretty much.

Like, I know it doesn't even feel like work, to be honest.

So, yeah, yeah, we're just having a laugh.

It was pretty impressive when I come out there and you guys are like, I had that little speaking time slot.

It was like half an hour, half an hour on the dog.

Yeah.

I was still cooking, man.

I was still ready to get going.

Yeah.

All right, boys have got weights.

Oh.

But the thing about it was, Dan, who was telling me, here's your guys, your mental strength coach and stuff like that, he was saying that, like, they're so diligent with everything that they do.

And, like, when I walked through, you guys were like, and it's probably normal for you guys, but when I was there, it wasn't like this.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You guys are already doing your video, your boys are in the ice bath, you didn't have a trainer standing over the top of your, with a watch.

It was just all self-sufficient, bro.

So, I love talking about the Penderous system because I love admiring it from afar as a fan.

But what's it like being in that type of system?

Because you just think it's normal.

Yeah.

You just think winning's normal.

Nah, yeah, yeah, right.

That's, I don't know, you see, like, guys like Clez and that, like, I think that's where it starts from.

Like, our leaders, like, you see them doing ice baths and stretching that.

I remember, like, for myself, when I was coming into the system, Krita was that person.

Like, the guy's just stretching for half an hour, 40 minutes to do ice baths.

So, I don't know, I think we just had the right people around us.

I don't know how it was back then for you guys, but, yeah, we, I don't know, our leaders are, it starts from them.

They're big ups to them.

So, obviously, Islanders, they're not usually big on, like, professionalism, and I've heard Krita say this a lot of times.

I've heard Ivan talk about Zayn Tetovano as a cultural architect, but we'll focus on Krita, because when this drops out, you guys have already played.

Yeah.

What's he mean to you, and what's it going to be like playing against him?

Nah, he's the man, like, my first grade pre-season, he'd always just come, I didn't have my license, so he came and picked me up all the time for pre-season.

Bruh, those chats, like, from training and back, like, I don't know, I always just tell him, like, he's everything I am.

I have what I've done, like, he's my mentor, bro, like, I have massive, like, love and respect for Krita, like, we touched on his stretching for ages, doing ice baths, he does ice baths up to his neck, I can't even do that, bro, like, I don't know.

And then, like, seeing what he's done for his country, some more than that, it's just, yeah, I don't know, just seeing what he's done behind the scenes, he deserves all the accolades.

What's, what's the type of conversations that he'll be having with you on the car on the way, like, way to trainings, because, is it just like that big brother sort of thing?

Yeah.

Or is he trying to teach you how to be professional?

Because I always find that stuff really interesting.

Yeah, no, he was just, yeah, sort of like that big brother thing, like, let me say it, like, I don't think he even knows that he's a leader, like, if you know what I mean, like, he's just, like, he'll just be doing, like, he's just being himself, and then, like, I just see it, and then I'm, like, fire out, like, he's in video for ages.

Yeah.

Um, he'll be doing ice baths, I don't know, like, you know, stuff like that, all the professionalism about him, like.

Are you going to the Tigers, or is Jerome in here?

Um, yeah, a bit, um, I remember I was asking him questions anyway, um, once I heard Tigers were coming in, um, but yeah, not, not too much, he was just pretty much saying he'll back me wherever I was going, um, yeah, mostly Uppy, um, doing his chat, um, yeah.

Well, what about the, like, um, financial difference, and you're a young guy, and talking about money back in the day was kind of, like, forbidden, or, like, frowned upon within media, but they were offering to pay more, was that a big incentive for you to leave?

Yeah.

Um, yeah, yeah, no, I think, um, I don't know, just got, like, there's personal stuff just going on, like, off the field and stuff, so I think, like, for myself, that, yeah.

Yeah, for sure.

Like, the financial stuff would have had to, you know, help my family out a bit more, um, yeah, I think family, yeah, family's a massive thing, so.

Uh, I've gave you a week off.

Yeah.

That's, um, I've never heard of that, too.

Yeah, the cows, yeah.

Yeah, uh, what was that conversation like, and did you, um, respect that?

Yeah, nah, I, I think, um, if he didn't give me the week off, the contract talks would still be going, so, um, I think that's, that's pretty much what it was.

Like we, like I said, we came to a mutual agreement, me and Ives, so, um, yeah, I always have, um, respect for Ives.

Yeah.

That guy, yeah, he, he knew what I was doing.

I was hoping he wasn't going to do those ones where, like, oh, yeah, it's, like, a week off, but then, like, because you're signing somewhere else.

Yeah, then he'll let me go.

Yeah, yeah.

See you later, bro.

Well, I was hoping it wasn't that.

Yeah, I know, it was, that's what, bro, legit, when he gave me the week off, that's when I popped up in my mind.

I was like, nah, but, yeah, it was good.

Ah, your debut for Fiji, obviously, you weren't on the, on the, uh, public radar.

Obviously, you had a few clubs chasing after you.

Yeah.

Let's talk about that as well, but what was it like debuting for Fiji and, and killing it?

Bro, that was, that's different, man.

Um, like, uh, faith, faith and family is a massive thing, um, and that's pretty much what it was in Fiji camp.

We start off, um, our days with devotion every morning, like six or seven in the morning with our pastor.

We had our own pastor.

Pastor coming to camp.

And then we end the day, we come together, um, seven, eight at night.

So, yeah, it's mad.

I remember that game, um, family from both mom and dad's side coming down.

Um, yeah, it was just real, real exciting, to be honest.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Uh, how important, like, you talk about faith and family and you see a lot of, like, international games.

Yeah.

And a lot of people come in with Haka.

You guys come in with him.

Mm-hmm.

What, and, like, watch you guys.

And I, I love all the Fijian songs.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah.

On the, on the Pissing Top as well.

But, like, what's it like going into a game with, like, that calming presence around you?

And, you see the boys and they're looking up and his tears coming down.

Yeah.

Like, what's it like being in that circle?

Bro, it, I don't explain it, bro.

It's like, I reckon you still get the same feeling as when the boys do the Haka and that.

Like, you're still, like, you're seeing him, but you're still feeling, like you're, feeling pumped for the game.

Mm.

So, yeah, I don't know how to explain it.

Yeah.

But, yeah, even though it's a calm thing, you're still feeling, like, really pumped for the game.

So, yeah.

still feeling like pretty pretty excited for the game so yeah yeah one thing i'll explain about

culture is and like you could be you could play 10 games of nrl yeah back to back and you jump

it and you're like tired you're fatigued but when you play for your culture yeah it dives a little

bit deeper and i'm always trying to explain culture to a people a lot of people that don't

have it and it's hard to explain today because there's a connection to not only you the boys

around you because you're looking around like all these boys kind of look like me and we've all

grown up a little bit similar and i don't know it's hard to explain bro but i think fiji do it

so well no i understand the connection like i think because everyone's like had a same story

i guess um you know your parents grew up in fiji came over um give you a better like upbringing i

guess but um yeah i don't know what it is like everyone just comes together in fiji camps just

you hear like 20 blokes laughing to the fijian laugh as well like just don't know when to stop

as well yeah

training boys in the gym just taking the piss bro you don't just can't be serious around the boys

so yeah all athletes too yeah everything comes natural to you guys too um what do you think can

what's the next phase for fiji and rugby league to get them to it's probably the point where

samoa and tonga like what's stopping you guys getting from where you are right now to there

um because outside backs man you boys yeah i think nice you're trying to get a full team

together hey like i think um

like the samoa world cup team right that was like seeing all of them just get together and

just wanting to be together i think like that's something that like the fijians

probably lacking at the moment um i don't know a few few big names if we can get together like

at the end of this year got like obviously up your kicks the syphidies um i think tarik sims

playing overseas or like yeah i think if we can get a couple more like big names around i think

that's what will um get us up there i just need that um six or seven eh

Yeah, halves as well.

Yeah, I think that's a big one

because like when Romy plays for Samoa,

there's a bit more structure.

You know what I mean?

And I think Isaac Couture is going to be the guy for Toma

to take him to that next little point where, yeah,

because I played with Kevin Nguyama too

and he jumps in the six

and some of the kicks are going all over the shot.

But you guys could probably play a different style

because your fullback's so big,

your outside backs are so talented.

You could almost play like, you know,

you guys play yardage with Penrith,

or you guys have got a tough carry,

you're back five, I don't know.

You might just have to switch up the style a little bit, eh?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, 100%.

I think that's what it is,

just play the power game all the way down the field.

Yeah.

But yeah, I think I'm like just,

even on last year in the Pacific channels,

I think, yeah, we're just missing that bit of,

I don't know, go forward, I guess.

That half just to take over,

like you touched on like Romy and Couture

just straightening their countries up and that.

So, yeah.

And even just kicking, kicking is like the big one.

Especially Fijians, man.

Boys start getting excited.

Anyone just kicks a far out.

Yeah, that's what it is.

Gun to your head,

what position would you want to play?

I think going forward,

it'll probably be centre fullback.

Are you going to West Tigers as a centre?

I think so.

Yeah, I think because Ramey or Jerem out the back

is already killing it.

So, yeah, wing centre for the Tigers, I guess, yeah.

Why do a lot of centres or wingers

want to play the centre position?

Do you like that position better?

Because I watch you play,

I watch a lot of guys play wing

and they're so good at playing wing

and I see you in that category.

But obviously when Dylan Edwards jumps off

and you're swinging down the blind side

and setting up tries, you know,

like I see that side of you as well

because you know you can ball play

and getting stuck on the wing,

you can't really pass anyone.

You're always getting, like, catching the ball.

So, is it just that chance to be a centre

and go one-on-one?

Is that what about for you?

Because you're such a good winger.

Yeah, I think that's what it is.

Like, I even speak to Bizard.

Bizard reckons he'll be a centre going forward as well.

Like, I think that's what it is.

Like, you...

I don't know how to say it.

Like, yeah, you're pretty, like,

someone like Bizard,

like, you're pretty much mastered wing.

You just want to go in centre.

Like, imagine Bizard at centre one-on-one.

Like, they'll be pretty crazy to defend against.

But then it takes away his carry.

You know what I mean?

That back, yeah.

I think that's what it is.

Like, when I speak to Tiny and Tago,

like, they feel like,

because defence,

you just have to get up to and reload

and then, like, you have no energy for that carries.

But, yeah, I don't know what it is.

Yeah, it's just a bit more fun, isn't it?

Yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Just go like that.

Boom.

Carry all the time.

Get him pumped.

Yeah, I get what you're saying.

Bro, touch on your family.

You talk about family's been a big part.

Obviously, I didn't know you,

but sorry to hear about your mum passing away.

No, not at all.

Yeah.

The thing I remember about this the most

is the way Ivan addressed it in the press conference

because, obviously,

you hadn't played NRL at the time

and the boys getting around you

and he said how important Tito was to the team.

And that was when I first heard of you.

Yeah.

What was it like going through that experience

and losing your mum?

No, it was...

Yeah, it was...

It was tough.

I remember because it was during COVID as well.

So, yeah, mum passed.

And then I remember like family would want to come visit us,

but we all had COVID.

Bro, so like people are just crying at the front of our house,

like family members and friends.

So, like no one could come in.

And then, yeah, it was tough.

So, we were in COVID for like two, three weeks,

like isolation.

So, yeah, mum passed.

Two, three weeks, we couldn't even see other families.

The funeral was in like a month later, pretty much.

But, yeah, like you touched on,

the club was massive.

I think that's why I re-signed back then as well,

back in 22.

Like what they've done for me is like it's massive.

They'll drop in like training gear off for me,

food and that for my family.

Yeah, and then even guys like...

I was just on development

and guys like Dio and Yoey sending me messages,

paragraphs and that.

Like as a young'un seeing the elders do that,

I was like...

Yeah, I was pretty shocked.

But, no, it was mad.

What was your favourite thing about you?

Yeah, mum.

I don't know.

Probably the thing I miss the most

is probably seeing her after the games.

Yeah, that's probably the big one.

Even guys, things like cooking.

Bro, I just abuse Uber Eats now.

Like it's crazy.

But I think like even like you miss the little things

like her doing your washing, her cooking.

Yeah, I think that's been the hardest thing.

Like even like it's been like...

It's been nearly two and a half years now.

It's still like...

I know it still hits you like these little things.

So, yeah.

Oh, bro, I should be so proud of you.

Yeah.

Was it like going through the experience

with your house like burning down?

Yeah, bro, that was...

The house burned down in 2020.

Like August or September or something.

And then mum passed literally nearly exact 12 months later.

So, yeah, that was that one, two year period.

That was just real tough.

The house was like so unexpected.

We were all just like saying,

me, you're my brother and we're just watching TV.

And we look outside and our old furniture just lit up.

And then I was like, bro, what the heck?

Pretty much got my younger brothers out.

Me and my older brother, mum was sleeping

because she'd done night shift.

So, she'd just come home in the morning and sleep.

Me and my older brother just had to like go wake mum up,

get her out the house.

But yeah, she was just like...

I remember when we went to try and get her out the house,

she was like, she wanted us to try and put the fire out,

but like it was just...

Too big.

Too big, bro.

Like she just didn't want to let it go.

And then my brother like literally had to just grab her,

take her out.

I was just like, yeah, I don't know.

It was a big couple of years.

Yeah.

During those times,

what was like the darkest period of obviously your mum passing away?

Did you just feel like, fuck, everything's just happened to me

and you're asking sort of why?

Yeah.

No, that's, bro, that's what it was.

I remember the two, three weeks we were in isolation after mum passed.

Like, bro, you just...

I remember I just being in my room,

I was just like, bro, why, why my family?

Like dad had a...

The bypass or something on your heart?

Like you had surgery?

Yeah.

I remember that happened like a couple of months before mum passed.

And I'm just thinking like, bro, what's...

Like what did my family do to deserve this sort of thing?

But like I touched on faith was a massive thing.

Mum, always seeing mum read her Bible

and listening to gospel music and that every morning,

I was just like, I can't...

I can't blame anyone.

Like I just have to keep my faith strong in that.

Yeah.

Did you have a Christian in your faith during that time?

Yeah.

Yeah.

I didn't want to say it, but yeah.

Yeah.

Asking God why, why my family, why my mum?

Like what me and my brothers do to deserve this.

I think that was the hardest bit as well,

seeing my brothers struggle with it.

Yeah.

Especially because I think my brother was like,

the youngest one was like nine, ten,

and like...

He was sort of at the age, like he sort of understood like...

Yeah.

It was so unexpected.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Crazy, bro.

Actually wigging me out, eh?

Yeah, I know, bro.

Thinking about it.

I feel bad.

I actually feel bad.

Makes me want to call my mum.

Yeah.

What do you want your legacy to be as a player and a person, bro?

Good question.

You're only 21, eh?

22.

Turn 22 in a couple months, September?

Yeah.

Bro, you're a baby.

I don't know, eh?

I remember Bizard tossed this thing up like...

Because Bizard always...

He's the last to come in the shed, like signing stuff.

Like the whole team's already like in there

and he just comes in like 20 minutes later

and then he said something to Tago,

I don't know, a couple months ago.

He was just saying that like,

you just don't know when your last game is,

sort of thing.

So like, he tries to...

I don't know, just be that...

He's saying, like, he just tries to show love to everyone, be...

But everyone just sees it with Bizard?

Yeah.

Like, he's that funny...

Like, you see it through social media,

he's that loving family guy.

I think that's what I want to be.

Yeah, if I see, like, if there's opportunity there,

like, to do community stuff,

like, I think that's what I want to be known as.

Yep.

Yeah, I don't know how to say it.

What was it like in the ring?

Was it everything you anticipated

or was it, like, a bit of an anti-climax?

Like, did it not feel what it felt?

Because I know some people have got to that point

and, like, they've worked their whole life towards to get that.

You've got it early,

but then after that, you're like,

oh, it wasn't what I expected.

How was that for you?

No, it was massive.

I remember...

Bro, I remember when MAM scored the hat-trick,

the third try,

I was just thinking,

fire out, bro.

There's no way, like,

this is how it ends.

Fire out.

No, that was crazy.

I remember, like,

especially, like,

seeing...

Because I grew up with Tego

and we just, like,

we'd just talk about it for ages,

like, that night,

like, after we won it.

I was like,

bro, we would play junior footy together.

We went in the ring together on the big stage.

Like, yeah, it was pretty surreal.

Yeah, I don't know.

I don't know how to explain it.

It was just...

I just couldn't...

I just didn't want it to stop, to be honest.

But then I sort of had to wake up to myself

knowing there was another pre-season.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

I remember talking to Klaes, like,

pre-season,

I'd been back for a couple of weeks

and I was still watching the grand final.

Like, I was still watching his highlights

the last 20 minutes.

I was like,

bro, I need to get over it, eh?

And then he was like,

say, like,

bro, I still watch my trial.

Yo, yo, yo.

Fire out.

So, yeah, like,

you get rolled into your last year at Penrith

and you've had this conversation with Brazil,

like, you don't know when your last game is,

but your timeframe on the Panthers

is coming to an end.

Yeah.

And, obviously,

growing up in the area

must be pretty sad.

But what's the conversations

you guys are having behind the scenes?

Fish,

who's been the guy

in your pack

for the past four or five years.

Yeah, he's probably your best player,

but when I'm,

if I'm playing against Penrith,

I'm looking for Fish first.

Yeah.

And his bash brother's second.

Romy,

been a big part of everything you guys done,

the energy of you guys,

and you're leaving as well.

Mm.

What's the conversations behind the scenes?

Like,

do you guys start talking, like,

last ride?

Yeah.

Do you start saying shit like that?

No, that's pretty much what it is.

You see everyone, like,

sorry,

what's her name?

Spenny and Chris,

they pretty much just started

that last ride thing.

Mm.

And then seeing the way

they went out last year,

I think that's what

me, Romy, and Fish want to do.

I remember when I called

Romy to tell him

that I was signing with Tigers,

he,

he pretty much just said,

bruh,

like,

we're going to leave with the ring.

Like, that's pretty much what we said.

I was like, yeah,

I think there's no other way

that we want to go out,

to be honest.

All right, bro.

We'll wrap that up there,

but I just want to say

thank you for jumping on.

Thanks for giving me your time

and all the best on the four-peat.

Appreciate it, bro.

Love, love.

Love, love.