Vunivalu backed Melbourne before he was a star
AUSTRALIA has the Melbourne Storm and their superstars to thank for a rare win over New Zealand rugby in luring try- scoring wizard Suliasi Vunivalu across the ditch.
A 16- year- old Vunivalu was playing rugby in New Zealand – already a member of the Auckland Blues development squad — when he travelled to Melbourne with his school side to play a curtain- raiser against a junior Melbourne Rebels outfit. The game happened to be at AAMI Park, home of the Storm, with their eagle- eyed recruiters quick to spot his prodigious talent.
Fast forward and 21- yearold Vunivalu has been the NRL’s top tryscorer in his first two years and is now preparing for his second grand final qualifier, against Brisbane on Friday.
Fiji- born Vunivalu said even as a junior rugby player in New Zealand he always had a soft spot for the Storm, which was why he turned his back on four Super Rugby clubs and signed an under- 20 contract despite having never played rugby league.
“The Storm started chasing me and I was a big Storm fan when I was a kid,” Vunivalu said.
“I looked up to players like Billy ( Slater), Smithy ( Cameron Smith) and Cooper ( Cronk) and I pinch myself that I’m playing in a another final with them.”
Vunivalu said this season had been special with the return of Slater, who had shoulder surgery after Round 1 ruling him out for the 2016 season.
“Having Billy at the back pushed me harder and I’m happy to be playing alongside him,” Vunivalu said.
“I’m also happy Josh ( AddoCarr) is on the other side and is doing well as it helps me with the competition against each other.”
Vunivalu recently committed to the Storm until 2020 and said he wouldn’t think about a return to rugby or moving from Melbourne before then.