Super Rugby: Reds skipper Samu Kerevi signs lucrative three-year deal with Japanese side Suntory

Family reasons played a huge part in the decision of Queensland reds skipper Samu Kerevi to make Japan the next stop of his burgeoning career.

Samu Kerevi gets a hug from Filipo Daugunu after what was his final home game.

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Update: Being a big brother in Japan sealed the deal for departing Reds skipper Samu Kerevi when he weighed up the $1 million-plus per season riches of playing for Suntory.

Kerevi stressed on Friday how tough the call was to leave the Reds when pointing to family factors and a long-term deal as the most persuasive elements.

Not since flanker Liam Gill headed to France in 2016 have the Reds lost such a prime-of-career player and it will leave a huge void.

The backline looked incapable of operating in the one game without Kerevi this season so it’s best the Reds enjoy his farewell on Saturday night against the Brumbies in Canberra.

The matchwinning centre did indicate negotiations were more prolonged than many people realised.

Samu Kerevi gets a hug from Filipo Daugunu after what was his final home game.

“The whole works with my manager and Rugby Australia have been 18 months in the making trying to do a long-term deal,” Kerevi said.

Kerevi said he held no ill will that nothing suitable eventuated with RA and that his best and earliest opportunity became a three-year mega deal in Japan.

“Like I said, there was a timing issue, getting deals in at the right time, nothing came together at the speed we would have liked it in our camp,” Kerevi said.

Sources indicate RA’s best offer was more than $300,000 a year short of what Kerevi could command abroad and that it came after he had already been promised to Suntory.

“I’m not disappointed with anyone, I don’t blame anyone,” Kerevi said.

“They (RA) have got a lot of things on their plate and I’m not the most important thing out there and that’s OK with me.”

Kerevi may inadvertently have revealed one of the core issues, that he never felt he was prized highly enough by RA.

If he’d already signed to play with Suntory in the opening month of Super Rugby, he certainly spent the season proving how good a player the Wallabies would be missing out on next year.

“Money is awesome, comforting and a real safety net but my little brother is the biggest factor in the whole thing,” Kerevi said.

Samu Kerevi has had his best season in Queensland colours.

“I prayed about this situation, what I needed, what my family needed and being there for him.”

Both Kerevi’s brothers are in Japan. Older brother Joshua plays for the Akita Northern Bullets while younger sibling Jone is finding his way with study and rugby at Tenri University.

“I missed out on a lot of my little brother’s life while I was in Australia (and he was in Fiji) and I want to be be part of his growth as a man, teach him how to shave and stuff,” Kerevi said.

Samu Kerevi is still available for the Rugby World Cup. Picture: Brett Costello

Kerevi said he was not closing the door on Queensland.

Any return would not be until the 2022 Super Rugby season while Kerevi can still rip into the 12 Tests of World Cup year as a Wallaby before he heads off.

Centre Tevita Kuridrani has signed a new one-year deal to stay on at the Brumbies.

Kerevi flashed a smile when asked how far the Brumbies could go in the Super Rugby finals.

“I hope this weekend will be their last loss and they can go all the way,” kerevi said.

At Ballymore today (Sat), former Reds Rod Davies and Andrew Ready will play for the Western Force when they meet Kagifa Samoa in a Global Rapid Rugby match.

Former Sunnybank halfback Issak Fines is having a standout season for the Force.