Suliasi Vunivalu’s journey from All Blacks dreams to his second consecutive grand final

STORM flyer Suliasi Vunivalu didn’t know the rules of rugby league three years ago and dreamt of being an All Black. Now he’s in his second NRL grand final.

Suliasi Vunivalu has been a try machine since joining Melbourne. (AAP Image/Julian Smith)

STORM sensation Suliasi Vunivalu has revealed how he took the ultimate career gamble, giving up on his dream to represent the All Blacks to play a rival sport in which he didn’t know the rules.

Vunivalu will line up for his second consecutive grand final when the Storm’s Fijian tryscoring machine runs on to ANZ Stadium to face the Cowboys in Sunday night’s NRL decider.

It represents an unfathomable fairytale for Vunivalu, who had mapped out plans to wear the iconic All Blacks jumper when he was blindsided by a left-field approach from Storm recruiters.

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Vunivalu has been a try machine since joining Melbourne. (Scott Barbour/Getty Images)

Eight Fijian-born players have represented the All Blacks, including legendary winger Joe Rokocoko, the Nadi-born 68-Test legend who attended noted rugby school Saint Kentigern College.

Vunivalu also won a scholarship with the Auckland-based school and dreamt of emulating Rokocoko, stepping up his rugby career when he played a game against the Melbourne Rebels under-18s in 2013.

The match just happened to be staged at AAMI Park, home of the Storm, whose scouts wandered outside for a look and spotted Vunivalu, eventually luring him to Melbourne for just $30,000.

Vunivalu wanted the follow the path of Fijian All Black Joe Rokocoko. (AP PicRoss/Setford /NZPA)

“It is an amazing journey,” Vunivalu said.

“When I was in Fiji, I wanted to follow my dreams and go to New Zealand for rugby union and maybe even play for the All Blacks.

“I saw myself playing professional rugby in New Zealand so the thought of playing in the NRL ... I didn’t see that coming.

“I had a scholarship in New Zealand so I had two years with Saint Kentigern. We had a game against the Rebels under-18s and after that game the Storm showed interest in me and started chasing me.

“Growing up in Fiji, I was a massive Melbourne fan and when they wanted me to come here, I couldn’t turn down their offer.”

Storm have brought the best out of the 21-year-old. (Ian Hitchcock/Getty Images)

Vunivalu hails from the Fijian village of Bagasau, so tiny it is home to just a few hundred residents.

His parents, who raised five children, were so poor that when Vunivalu signed with the Storm, he bought them a television in case he made the big time.

Still just 21, Vunivalu hasn’t so much made the NRL as hit the code like a Fijian tsunami. He has 46 tries from as many games and will again break the Storm record for most four-pointers in a season if he crosses in the NRL decider.

“I can’t believe it, I’m in another grand final,” said Vunivalu, who set the record last season with 23 tries.

“I never thought I would come this far.

“Early last year, I was playing in the Queensland Cup all year and probably just thought I would fill in for one or two games during the Origin period. But to come so far so quickly, I owe it to the coaching staff for believing in me and helping me improve.

“I am playing better this year than I was last year. I am a lot smarter. Last year, I used to wait for the boys to tell me what to do, but this year if I see an opportunity I will take it on myself.

“It was disappointing to lose last year (in the grand final), so hopefully we can go one better this time.”