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Australia's latest NRL recruit already making waves with Queensland Reds: 'I have unfinished business with rugby'

Suliasi Vunivalu at training with Melbourne Storm (Photo by Daniel Pockett/Getty Images)

The sight of the Queensland Reds’ prized recruit Suliasi Vunivalu prowling on the wing at Ballymore has instantly excited Wallabies playmaker James O’Connor.

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The Reds five-eighth has told the NRL title winner to “stay on his hip because he’ll feed the big winger” as the improving side eye some Super Rugby AU silverware of their own this year.

Cross-field bombs to exploit Vunivalu’s aerial prowess will also be a new addition to the Reds arsenal, complementing the power and speed that was already present in an exciting backline last season.

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We’re back for 2021 and Zeebs, Ryan and Christina are joined by former professional referee JP Doyle to talk through all the latest news and happenings in the world of rugby. The guys chat Christmas celebrations and crazy scenes in the Pro D2.

“It was just good to get the rugby ball back in my hands and running with the boys and that (cross-field bombs) may come in later in the week,” Vunivalu said after his first session on Thursday.

“I’m loving the change and looking forward to learning off (coach) Brad Thorn … it’s an easy transition (compared to when he moved over to league) because I grew up playing rugby.”

Fijian-born Vunivalu was a schoolboy rugby standout in New Zealand before he was pinched in 2014 to join Melbourne’s NRL development system.

In five seasons and 111 NRL games the flyer pocketed 86 tries and two premierships, while he also played in a grand final alongside potential Wallabies teammate Marika Koroibete in 2016.

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They were reunited ahead of schedule when new Australia coach Dave Rennie invited Vunivalu in to Wallabies camp late last year, just weeks after his starring role in the Storm’s grand final win.

The winger said he paid close attention to Koroibete, who has emerged as one of the Wallabies’ most enterprising players in attack and defence.

“That camp was really helpful, a bit of a head start before I got here to the Reds and I was just watching how he positions himself,” Vunivalu said.

“He’s everywhere around the field; he’s got a good engine and I need to work on mine.”

Vunivalu’s first game for the Reds could come as soon as February 5 in a Super Rugby AU trial g ame against the NSW Waratahs in Narrabri.

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The 2 5-year-old said he’s had no second thoughts despite the Storm’s incredible 2020 campaign, with dual-code star and Reds coach Thorn a big factor in his move.

Vunivalu said back-to-back titles in different codes, as well as a Wallabies cap, were both longer-term goals once he established himself in Queensland’s XV.

“I have unfinished business with rugby; I’ve done my time in league and achieved what I wanted,” he said.

“It’s something different, a new challenge I’m looking forward to.”

– Murray Wenzel

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M
MA 2 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

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