WALLABIES, REDS SNARE STORM STAR

RUGBY UNION: The strike power of grounded weapon Israel Folau has been replaced in the plans of the Wallabies by a swoop for explosive Melbourne NRL finisher Suliasi Vunivalu.

The Fijian has signed a twoyear deal with the Queensland Reds and Rugby Australia to bring his exhilarating wing play to Super Rugby in 2021 and 2022.

The 24-year-old is already on record as saying he is committed to playing the final season of his NRL deal with the Storm next season.

The 2017 premiership winner has scored 72 tries in 94 NRL games for the Storm, a phenomenal strike rate just a tick behind Folau’s career rate (73 from 91 games) before his switch to rugby in 2013.

It’s a big signing for the Reds with the potential for the 2021 backline to include young gun Jordan Petaia, James O’Connor and Wallaby-in-waiting Tate McDermott.

Vunivalu was a schoolboy rugby talent in New Zealand when he moved to Auckland at 16 and so impressed he made the Auckland Blues’ development squad.

League’s astute poaching hooked him for the Storm’s under-20 squad, which became his Queensland connection through stints at feeder clubs Sunshine Coast (2015) and Brisbane-based Easts (2016).

“We look forward to welcoming Suliasi Vunivalu back to rugby and to Queensland as a great addition in 2021,” Reds coach Brad Thorn said.

“Suliasi grew up playing rugby in NZ before becoming one of the NRL’s most exciting players with 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.”