Footy star makes grovelling apology for mocking his own teammate in shocking social media post

Sunia Turuva says he regrets using social media to mock Lachlan Galvin for leaving Wests Tigers and patched things up with the teen star before he joined Canterbury.

Turuva and teammate Jarome Luai took to their Instagram Stories to criticise the five-eighth's call to reject the Tigers' offer of a rich contract extension in April.

The pair of swipes led to suggestions of a divide among the Tigers' playing group, with Galvin's management later serving the club a legal letter over bullying claims.

One of the NRL's most upbeat characters, Turuva has since moved on from the drama, preparing to face former club Penrith for the first time on Sunday as Galvin eyes a possible Bulldogs debut a day later.

Turuva admits if he had his time again, he would not have taken aim at his then-teammate, whose release from the Tigers was finally confirmed last week.

He posted an image of Galvin's locker accompanied the song 'Money Talks', which features the lyrics 'Here comes the money, money, money' and is used by WWE wrestling star Shane McMahon.

'Looking back on it, I wouldn't have done the post in the first place,' the winger said.

'I didn't think of what he was going through at the time. I'm happy to see where he's at now and happy for the club as well, we're able to move on.'

Turuva addressed the matter with Galvin before the teenager officially joined Canterbury as the NRL's biggest mid-season signing in recent memory.

'We did speak about it, just trying to say that the club is bigger, trying to move on,' he said.

'For myself, I thought it was a joke, but looking back on it now, I've got to be a bigger person.

'Just seeing where he's at now, I think it's a really good spot for him. It's a really good spot for the club as well. For us and for him, it's just good to move on now. We're able to leave it in our past.'

Illness sidelined Luai from training on Wednesday but Turuva says he'll return for Friday's session and take the field on Sunday against the Panthers, where the duo were key members of the premiership dynasty.

'(Luai) has got the man flu,' Turuva explained.

'We'll see him here on Friday. He'll be sweet (to play).'

Turuva said former teammate Brian To'o began sledging him as soon as he came from the field after Penrith's 18-10 defeat of Parramatta on Sunday.

'He's been messaging me each day,' Turuva said.

'(He's) already trying to play mind games, trying to send photos from last year of me in the Panthers jersey. He's trying to tell me not to forget where I came from.

'Yesterday, he said if they score on me he's going to bring me into their celebration. Hopefully Jeral (Skelton, To'o's opposite winger) can score on him and I can bring him into ours.'

Edge defence has been a particular issue for Penrith this season, though the four-time reigning premiers showed improvement in the defeat of the Eels.

Turuva is hoping to cash in.

'Scoring a couple of tries against the old team would be pretty good,' Turuva said.