Injured NRL convert Suliasi Vunivalu says he’s likely to return for the next Queensland Reds game and is intent on winning back respect after an inauspicious start to life in rugby union.
The Melbourne Storm winger starred in his side’s NRL grand final victory in October, despite spending almost six months away from his family in the club’s Sunshine Coast COVID-19 bubble.
But what seemed destined to be a smooth transition has been anything but, Vunivalu missing three of his unbeaten side’s seven wins this Super Rugby AU season, first because of suspension then due to a hamstring injury.
Part of a Wallabies’ 40-man camp in Sydney this week, Vunivalu’s arrival from rugby league has been trumpeted as a potential game-changer for the national side, who will play France and then potentially host the Rugby Championship later this year.
While he has shown glimpses of brilliance in his few starts this season Vunivalu knows he’s running out of time to make an impression if he wants to be part of those Tests.
And it’s partly his own doing, the 25-year-old set for a court date next weekend after being charged with common assault for allegedly striking a security guard in the face while intoxicated earlier this year.
He missed the season opener as a result, the club also fining him and saying he had allegedly pushed the security guard.
“It was hard standing in front of them (my teammates) addressing them; not a good look being there just four weeks when that incident happened,” Vunivalu said on Monday.
“He (coach Brad Thorn) said this is just a minor setback, but the only way it can get better is by what you do afterwards.
“So I just tried to keep my head down and show on the field that I’m better than that … at that time I really wanted support, so him talking to me was really good.”
The Reds will host the domestic final on May 8 with Vunivalu a chance of collecting a dual-code double inside six months.
All but over his hamstring niggle, Vunivalu hopes to first find a spot in a stacked Reds backline to face the Western Force on April 23 after their bye this week.
Regular visits to Reds attack coach Jim McKay’s office and Thorn’s “old-school” approach have Vunivalu confident the game he played as a schoolboy in Fiji and New Zealand is quickly coming back to him.
“I can kick, I can roam around like a fullback in league in the middle or the other edge so I’m happy (with my progression) but I’m learning and the more games the better,” he said.
“One more game before the big dance would be good because I’d love to (play for the Wallabies later this year) but you’ve got to show it at club level to wear that (jersey).”
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Yeh 10 might be a bit overstated but I would rather any of the super rugby wingers who have at least played in that position defensively for a while. Could you imagine the ABs coming against a winger with a handful of professional rugby games under his belt. It would be a bloodbath
soapit
Roar Guru
Agree on the money. Depends on definition for the game changer bit. With a bit of imagination I can see him potentially chasing the outcome of some matches
PeterK
Roar Guru
10th is a bit harsh. Currently Wright, Koroibete, Petaia, Daugunu, Muirhead all ahead of him and at the required test level. No other wingers I would rate as test level yet and I would place Vunivalu lumped in with them.
Walter Black
Guest
I much as I liked Suli when he played for Melbourne, his main attribute was speed and that was what Melbourne wanted him for. His defence was average but the biggest problem was that he would do some crazy things at times. Bellamy tried to coach that out of him but beware, it is still there somewhere. He never had a kicking game at all in league but get the ball too him in space and he was gone. I very much doubt that he is Wallabies grade,
Bentnuc
Roar Pro
Yep, good call Peter K. So many good wingers at the moment. He would be lucky to be tenth in line. If he is capped it is a joke and I would lose a lot of faith in Rennie as a credible coach. Wouldnt even make the bench in the Reds. He should work is way up like Tom Wright did (granted Wright didnt have the name for himself or league success that Vunivalu has)
Markus
Roar Rookie
It was a while back and it’s hard to get clear numbers at times, but yeah Ferguson at 500k was the first winger to appear in the top earners list. Seems like Cotric may now be the highest at 650, well short of the big earners in the halves, dummy halves fullback and props.
PeterK
Roar Guru
sure but a game changer for the wallabies? Don't think so. Worth all that money when RA is skint? No there is an abundance of wingers.
soapit
Roar Guru
actually think koro might not be first choice by the end of the year. appreciate what he's done but theres some very good talent coming through.
soapit
Roar Guru
he was pretty good in the air in nrl. he seemed elusive in his appearance and put on a nice pass on the end of one to capitalise for the try. very quick to judge after limited viewing. give him a fair shot and you may be surprised. id say there will be games he makes the difference.
soapit
Roar Guru
ferguson the highest paid? that cant be right is it?
James GC
Roar Rookie
Ilaisa Droasese is also there soooo much talent waiting in the wings, yep I see what I did there.
James GC
Roar Rookie
This will be Petaia to win with Tom Wright claiming the other one
PeterK
Roar Guru
Koroibete is leaving for Japan end of this year so will only play tests this year, that will open up 1 wing spot.
Markus
Roar Rookie
He seems to have plenty of footwork, and showed a strong fend and offload against the Force I think. I would have assumed with his height that he was used as a high ball target but have never seen it. But overall, RA keep paying way over market rate for league players, especially wingers who are among the lowest paid in the NRL. Was the original 900k a year figure touted ever substantiated? Because that would have been just shy of double the highest paid NRL winger in Blake Ferguson.
MO
Guest
I think Vunivalu can become a very good strike winger but he's a couple of seasons away and when he gets there he'll still be up against plenty of good queenslanders. Daugunu can make it at test level - especially once he kick chases without getting carded. Korobeiti will be hard to displace from his own wing. Petaia may well be parked on a wing for a while and he has shown that he can kick. Tom Wright looked at home in a Wallaby jumper. Ralston has plenty of potential as does Jonah Placid (who has been injured forever?) and as do a bunch of guys at the Warratahs. All in all Vunivalu will have his work cut out.
GhostFacePilfer
Guest
He will have to work hard to get a spot for the Reds' final 2 SRAU games. He might have to target SRTT. Reds back 3 is deeeep with 6 potential guys to fill 3 spots - Petaia, Daugunu, Vunivalu, Campbell, Hegarty, Flook. I'd say it will depend on who gets picked at 13 and 15 which will determine whether Vunivalu will get a wing/bench position
PeterK
Roar Guru
trumpeted as a potential game-changer for the national side What a load of utter utter rubbish. All he has shown is very good straight line speed. How is that a game change for the wallabies? He isn't great in the air. He is not that elusive. He has no idea on positioning, not a good kicker of the ball. Not a great defender. He will learn positioning but he will never be a game changer. All in all not worth the 500k that RA could ill afford.