Former dual international Craig Wing has backed Suliasi Vunivalu to make a successful transition back into rugby union, largely thanks to the systems at the Melbourne Storm.

Vunivalu, who has a background in rugby prior to his time at the Storm, announced on Tuesday he’d be quitting the NRL at the end of the 2020 season and joining the Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia on a two-year deal.

His move could see him line-up for the Wallabies in the future alongside former Storm teammate Marika Koroibete, who took 18 months to find his feet in the code before winning the 2019 John Eales Medal.

Round 20

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Wing, who earned 17 caps for Australia in league and 11 for Japan in union, believed Vunivalu’s transition would be a lot smoother than Koroibete’s and even his own.

“The best asset he has is the systems and the grounding and professionalism that he learnt in the Melbourne Storm system,” Wing told Fox Sports Tonight.

“That’s arguably one of the best sporting organisations, with the success that they’ve had, in the world. He’ll always carry that with him.

“In my personal experience it probably took me six months to understand the game plan, understand where I needed to be on the field, what my role was in any given situation.

“But then it’ll probably take another six months to work out where can I apply my instinct, where can I vary away from the game plan and where can I come back into it.

“It’s a good 12-month transition, although the difference is he’s in an English-speaking environment where he’s got a good team of coaches around him, whereas I was trying to learn that in a different language and not as big of a support network.

“He’s got everything that he needs to be the best player there is in rugby union.”

Suliasi Vunivalu in action for the Storm. Source: Getty Images

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Vunivalu becomes the fourth NRL player to announce his defection in recent months after Will Chambers, Jordan Rapana (Japanese rugby) and Solomone Kata (Super Rugby).

While Wing said Vunivalu’s exit would be a loss to the game, he reckoned fans and clubs should also take it as a compliment.

“Those things stand testament to the quality of rugby league and the quality of athlete that rugby league develops,” Wing said.

“There’s not too many sports that can boast that if you make it to the top in rugby league you could potentially have an opportunity to play in rugby union all around the world.”

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