Storm star Suliasi Vunivalu swaps codes to rugby union

Queensland Reds, Wallabies boost their try-scoring capacity by signing Storm’s Suliasi Vunivalu.

Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu will switch to the Queensland Reds in 2021

The Queensland Reds and potentially the Wallabies have boosted their try-scoring capacity — but perhaps not just yet — by signing Melbourne Storm flyer Suliasi Vunivalu on a two-year deal.

Vunivalu, who was a schoolboy sensation in rugby union in New Zealand, has decided to switch back to the 15-man game following several successful seasons in the NRL, indicating he will join the Reds in 2021 and 2022.

Vunivalu is set to depart the Storm at the end of the 2020 season. Picture: Getty Images

Certainly the Reds would have loved him to come on board for the 2020 season, to join their other star Fijian wing recruit Henry Speight, but he is still contracted next year to the Storm. It is possible that coach Craig Bellamy might give him an early release, much as he has done with new Brisbane Broncos halfback Brodie Croft, but more realistically, he is likely to hold onto Vunivalu tighter than ever, given that he has lost so many of his outside backs already.

Storm chief executive Dave Donaghy said they were unable to compete with the rugby offer.

“It’s always disappointing to lose quality players but we understand Suli’s decision,” Donaghy said in a statement.

“Importantly he has expressed his total commitment to Storm for the next 12 months and we expect he will again play a key role in our 2020 campaign.”

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During Vunivola’s time in rugby league, he has broken the record for scoring the most tries in his first two full seasons and currently has 72 tries in 94 appearances for the Storm, including 11 in 2019. Certainly if he has the same success in rugby as the previous Storm-based Fijian winger to make the switch to rugby, 2019 John Eales Medallist Marika Koroibete, the Reds will have snared themselves a champion.

It is fair to say that is precisely how Reds coach Brad Thorn already sees him.

“He’s an impressive talent and has an awesome ability to find the tryline. He brings good experience too with almost 100 NRL games for Melbourne and 12 rugby league Tests for Fiji. Suliasi will be a great addition to our program,” said Thorn.

Vunivalu made his name in the NRL, but played schoolboy rugby. Picture: Getty Images

Vunivalu said he had always considered going back to rugby union and felt he had to look after his young family.

“I was a rugby union player before switching to league and always thought going back to rugby was an option for my career and I never wanted to play for another NRL club.

“I’d hate to have to go up against Storm and my mates.”

Rugby Australia’s director of rugby, Scott Johnson, who played no small role in enticing Vunivalu to return to the 15-a-side game, believes he could force his way into the Wallabies reckoning soon after making the switch. Certainly with Israel Folau not likely ever to pull on the gold jersey again, he could inject some much-needed pace out wide.

“This is a very good signing for Australian rugby and the Reds,” Johnson said. “Suliasi was a standout schoolboy rugby player. He is an elite finisher with a lot of big-game experience for a young man and will have an immediate impact for the Reds in 2021 and put himself right in the frame for higher honours.

“He is one player we have been looking at very closely this year with the skillset we are looking for in the outside backs. He has been working in a great environment at the Storm and has chosen a future in rugby, so it is a great result for the game.”

There was a time when Australian rugby was criticised for turning too often to rugby league for outside backs and while there have been any number of conspicuous failures, the on-field successes of players such as Folau and Koroibete would appear to justify the approach.