How Suliasi Vunivalu’s Code Switch Could Actually HELP The Storm In 2021
Reported $1.8 million contract
Good news for Queensland Reds fans!
As the club continues its rebuild under Brad Thorn, a wave of hope and excitement hit the Sunshine State yesterday when it was announced that Melbourne Storm flyer and 2017 Dally M Top Scorer Suliasi Vunivalu will switch codes to Rugby Union.
The catch? He won’t make the shift until the end of the 2020 season.
Reports suggest that Vunivalu, who has played 12 tests for his birth-nation of Fiji, has been offered a $900,000 a year deal over two years, a deal the Storm simply could not match.
Melbourne, who have just lost Brodie Croft to a move north, are desperately looking to hold onto their other prolific winger Josh Addo-Carr who has expressed his interest in a move to Sydney.
However, getting Vunivalu off their books may work in the 2019 Minor Premiers favour, as NRL Insider Dobbo explained.
Listen below:
The move is seen as coup for Rugby Australia after a horrific Rugby World Cup campaign, and it's believed that Vunivalu will act as cornerstone of the Wallabies attack in the lead up to the 2023 tournament.
Once Vunivalu makes the switch, he'll join forces with former Fijian-born Storm teammate Marika Koroibete in Wallaby gold.
Koroibete was recently awarded the 2019 John Eales Medal, Australian Rugby’s highest honour.
Hear the full chat below:
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