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The long-anticipated move by Melbourne Storm winger Marika Koroibete to rugby union has been confirmed.
The Fijian flyer told his Storm teammates on Thursday of his decision to leave the NRL at season’s end and join Super Rugby club Melbourne Rebels on a two-year deal.
Koroibete, who joined the Storm from Wests Tigers in 2014, has become a fans’ favourite at AAMI Park, scoring 27 tries in 41 appearances since his move.
But the 23-year-old says he simply couldn’t turn down a lucrative offer to switch codes.
“It was a very hard decision to make to leave Storm, but it’s a great opportunity for my young family here in Melbourne and my family back home in Fiji,” Koroibete said in a statement.
Storm coach Craig Bellamy appeared resigned to the move last week when he told reporters the club simply couldn’t match the Rebels’ offer.
Bellamy said it was a shame to be losing Koroibete and he had hoped the NRL would have provided more assistance to the Storm to help them keep the winger in the game.
The winger has scored 39 tries in 57 games with the Wests Tigers and Melbourne Storm since he made his first grade NRL debut in 2012.
“Marika’s exceptional strength, explosive speed and try scoring ability makes him a handful for opponents and we feel his attributes will be well suited to Rebels Rugby,” Melbourne Rebels General Manager Rugby Operations Baden Stephenson said.
Melbourne Rebels Managing Director Andrew Cox said “it’s an exciting signing for the Melbourne Rebels, Victorian and Australian Rugby.”
“The signature of Marika Koroibete is an endorsement of the Rebels growing stature in Melbourne’s sporting culture and vision to become a world leading Rugby club on and off the field.”
Koroibete finished last year as the Melbourne Storm’s leading try-scorer (16 tries) and has scored five tries in eight appearances this season.
“It was a very hard decision to make to leave Storm, but it’s a great opportunity for my young family here in Melbourne and my family back home in Fiji,” Koroibete said.
“I played Rugby until my late teens so I’m very much looking forward to making a Rugby career with the Rebels.”
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.