Star Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu fit and ready to make his first Super Rugby Pacific appearance of the season
AAMI Park is a fitting venue for ex-Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu to play his first game of the Super Rugby Pacific season.
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Former Melbourne Storm NRL premiership-winning winger Suliasi Vunivalu will make a welcome return to AAMI Park on Friday night in his first appearance of the Super Rugby Pacific season for the Queensland Reds.
Injuries have dogged Vunivalu since switching codes at the end of the 2020 NRL season.
However, he has finally overcome a hamstring problem to be named in the Reds’ starting than for the match against the Melbourne Rebels.
“How good, (and) back in Melbourne,” Reds halfback captain Tate McDermott said of Vunivalu’s long-awaited return.
“Hopefully he brings a couple of Melbourne Storm fans with him, but it’s just good to see someone (come back) like Suli who’s been on and off for so long.
“He started to hit his straps last year and then his hammy went.
“We were absolutely gutted for him, but spending a bit of time with him in rehab, he’s someone that is just awesome to be around
“It’s just his aura ... the boys love having him around.”
McDermnott said he and flyhalf James O’Connor would deliver some high-balls in Vunivalu’s vicinity.
“I’m looking forward to putting up a couple and James will put a couple of kicks up for him, and see what he can do out there with ball in hand,” he said.
“It’s a really exciting team this weekend.”
Hooker Richie Asiata, prop Zane Nonggorr and flanker Connor Vest will start for Queensland for the first time in a Super Rugby clash, while versatile forward Angus Scott-Young returns –via the bench – after six-week absence with a knee injury.
The Reds are fresh off a bye after winning six of their first seven games of the season.
“(The bye) came at a perfect time,” McDermott said.
“It’s not often that you play seven games in a row without a break, so for the boys that have been here for a while, it’s very rare that you’d go that long.
“We’re just looking forward to, to the challenges that lie ahead.”
Among the onlookers at Reds training on Wednesday was Wallabies coach Dave Rennie.
“Wallabies coaches come in all the time just to check up, but he doesn’t say too much. He just stands at the back with his notepad, so I’m sure he’s writing some stuff down,” McDermott said.
Reds: Feao Fotuaika, Richie Asiata, Zane Nonggorr, Ryan Smith, Angus Blyth, Connor Vest, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson, Tate McDermott (c), James O’Connor, Filipo Daugunu, Hamish Stewart, Hunter Paisami, Suliasi Vunivalu, Jordan Petaia, Reserves: Matt Faessler, Harry Hoopert, Taniela Tupou, Lopeti Faifua, Angus Scott-Young, Kalani Thomas, Josh Flook, Lawson Creighton.
Originally published as Star Reds winger Suliasi Vunivalu fit and ready to make his first Super Rugby Pacific appearance of the season
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