Rugby Australia are looking to double-down on the success of luring former NRL star Marika Koroibete to the code by targetting one of his teammates, Suliasi Vunivalu.

Vunivalu is contracted with the Melbourne Storm until the end of 2020 season and has been offered a deal that would see him switch to rugby union and be contracted through till the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

However, it’s believed that the Storm may consider allowing Vunivalu to leave the club a year early, as a means of freeing up salary cap space.

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It’s believed Vunivalu has already met with Rugby Australia officials and if he does make the switch would appear a shoe-in to become a regular feature of the national team.

He is weighing up his career options and is also being courted by clubs overseas, which could offer him more lucrative deals.

Of course, playing the game in Australia would have the lure of allowing Vunivalue the chance to play for the national team, which may prove more swaying.

Vunivalu has scored 72 tries from 94 appearances for the Storm.

Melbourne’s Josh Addo-Carr said, regarding the rumours, that Vunivalu would be a big loss not just to the Storm but the NRL as the best in his position.

“He’d be a very big loss to rugby league,” said Addo-Carr.



“In my opinion, he is the best winger in the game.

“You’ve just got to give him the opportunity to score some points, I don’t think us as a team did that.

“He’s big and strong and he does a lot of yardage carrying out. He’s good at scoring points in the air, too.”