Wallabies’ World Cup hopeful Suliasi Vunivalu says he went “into my shell and struggled” when he suffered a second significant hamstring injury, but has hailed the high performance guru who has restored his fitness and confidence.
The former Melbourne Storm NRL star signed a one-year contract extension on Tuesday that will take him through to the end of the World Cup next year.
It has been a rough road with injury for the high-profile code hopper, who freely admits he’s still got a lot to learn about the XV man game, but he’s embracing the current Sunshine Coast camp with confidence, hopeful his ongoing hamstring strains are now behind him.
Asked if the injuries had been mentally tough for him to deal with, Vunivalu replied: “100 percent – last year was a goal to play really good footy and make the Wallabies and that cut short.
Suliasi Vunivalu. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
“When I did my second hamstring I’ve gone back to my shell and struggled. This year it’s different, all the staff have been helping me throughout and that shows this season. I played six or seven games straight without feeling any tightness or anything.”
He praised the work of high performance manager Dean Benton, who has worked for many elite teams across various codes, including time at the Storm and Brumbies.
“I had Dean at the Storm that helped similar players with their hamstrings as well and I believe in his work, and I’ve worked with him after my second surgery for three months,” Vunivalu said.
“It’s been awesome working with him and I’ve never felt so good with my hamstring before.”
While he thinks his fitness might be sorted, the focus can now concentrate on improving his rugby union skill set.
“When you come up to this Wallabies camp they’ve watched every game that you’ve played and they have an idea what I can do more. They’ve told me to do a couple of things on the field. I’m really working hard on that this week and last week. Everything is going well.”
Such as? “Just looking at the ball, trying to stay busy all the time, being an option if you you’re not doing something, working from side to side to side. That’s something to focus on, and just trying to improve my contact.”
Teammate Marika Koroibete has been an additional coaching resource. His fellow Fijian also made the transition from the NRL at the Storm to the rugby and has become one of the world’s most damaging wingers.
“Since I first started he’s been the guy that I go to and ask him about tips,” Vunivalu said. “Knowing him, his work ethic on the field you can see for yourself.”
While Vunivalu said he had considered offers to switch back to league he wanted to see his dream of playing at a World Cup through.
“I haven’t played ay Tests for the Wallabies. I have been training well and I will back myself to make that goal,” he said. “I wanted to stay in Australia and my performance will speak for itself, if I am to stay here.
“I started playing rugby when I was a kid, we are all rugby fans back in Fiji. I have watched World Cups and that has always been a goal for me growing up, to play in a World Cup.
“I didn’t know I was going to end up in rugby league, leaving school. But then when I was there I was with Nelson (Asofa-Solomona), we always spoke about spending a couple of years in league and then trying to head back to rugby when we were age 24-25. It happened for me.”
Vunivalu’s adjustment period has been obvious in his limited game time, but he knows what he likes about his new code.
“Everything is contestable and you have licence to kick whereas in league you really can’t kick,” he said. “If you catch it from the back you have to run it straight into the wall of defence. You can roam around, you don’t have to stay on your wing, you can roam around and work.
“I have been working on my kicking game since last year, with [James] O’Connor and the boys. I don’t really kick on my left, I kick on my right, which is my good side.”
He’s been well supported by another code hopper – coach Brad Thorn at the Reds.
“He understands, he has been in that position as well,” said Vunivalu. “The first couple of games I was a bit rusty and a bit nervous, after my second surgery. He was always supportive, looking after me.”
Now he’s in the hands of Dave Rennie, who said he picked him in the 35-man squad “because he has massive potential.”
“We think we can accelerate his development within the camp rather than leaving him outside of that. He’s had his troubles with injury, we’ve seen glimpses of real quality and we’re just keen to get our hands on him and accelerate that,” Rennie said when he announced the squad last week.
“We’re going to have 14 Tests this year so there’s a lot of footy to be played. We genuinely believe he’s good enough to play at that level. That’s the decision we made – have him in the group and have our eye on him day after day.”
The England series could yet come too soon for Vunivalu, and he might be brought in later down the line this winter to give his sensei Koroibete a rest.
But he feels ready to go.
“One hundred percent, I will back myself,” he said when asked if he could perform should Rennie give him game time against England.
“If he has that belief in me and wants to throw me in there and pick me, I will put my hand up and back myself to play.”
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Did you think George Smith had done enough to earn his first gold jersey or was he selected on his massive potential? I really rate Muirhead and think he’s one of the smartest outside backs in the country, but he doesn’t have the potential of Vunivalu or Petaia, and he’s not better than Marika or Kellaway. So how does he fit? As there are already 15 Brumbies in the Wallaby squad, which is a lot for a team that wasn’t good enough to win the title in a lesser tier - I’d suggest that Mckellar ran out of credits at the selection table and decided to take another of his pets, (Lolesio has little form or potential) instead of Muirhead, which probably tells the story of how his own coach sees things.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
Not much of this is true. RA didn’t pony up the massive coin for him to make the switch and his latest deal is probably less than half that number.
Honest Max
Roar Rookie
He’s possibly keen to go to Japan and make triple what he’d earn in the NRL. Why not?
John R
Roar Guru
Fair play mate. And to be honest I haven't watched a heck of a lot of NRL so don't know too much on him from his time there. But I'll take it on board in good faith and keep an eye out for it!
Tomu
Guest
Like Koroibete, he grew up playing backyard rugby, school and club rugby. Many Fijians do for that matter. Just needs a few game time to make that mental adjustment back to union. I guess that's what the coaches are banking on drafting him soon and providing that neccessary enircromment to make that adjustment. He also brings that ariel skills because of his height which is something Koroibete lacks. Wallabies could be unearthing another rockstar Fijian winger following the likes of Tuqiri and Koroibete. Be patient. Give him time.
Brian Westlake
Roar Rookie
Understand your thoughts here JR, but review storm games and, whilst some see so much potential, I don't. As far as talk from officials go... They want return for investment Not gonna find it here.
Jack
Guest
Then he should show it on the paddock before he is selected for the Wallabies. The promised upside is a justification for undeserving selections.
terrence
Roar Rookie
no they're not..vunivalu has more upside..
jcmasher
Roar Rookie
I'm just glad Rennie is seeing something that I'm missing. Sure he's got great attacking skills at times but he still doesn't know enough about the game to put himself in the right position in either attack or defence and so at times he doesn't attack when he should because he doesn't know the game. His defence is shocking and he doesn't know how or when he should pass and when he should hold. Still making basic junior rugby errors due to his lack of experience. Happy for him to learn but I can't help think he'll be a liability in the Wallaby jersey for a few years yet
John R
Roar Guru
Brian this comment is quite at odds with the talk from the officials that Vunivalu is perhaps 'the finest physical athlete to ever be in our system' or something to that effect. We haven't really seen him play yet, let's give him a chance.
John R
Roar Guru
When he first signed, quite a few cynics said he was just looking to build a pedigree so he could spring board into a $1m+ deal in Japan - and if that's the case, well, fair dinkum - AUS rugby just need to recognise and realise and milk him for what he's worth whilst he's here. I say good luck to the young man, let's give him a chance.
John R
Roar Guru
League don't pay that much for wingers. Only Union are silly enough for that.
Broken Shoulder
Roar Rookie
Agree mate. Suli was offered a contract by RA and the Reds and he accepted. That's not his fault they were willing to offer that amount of money. He's also been selected in Wallabies squads which he has absolutely no control over. He's been incredibly unlucky with 2 hamstring injuries (again, not his fault) and has shown about as much as you can expect from 10 odd games over 2 years. I'm disappointed and frustrated for Suli as a fan but the anger and blame people seem to direct toward him baffles me.
The Selector
Roar Rookie
Injuries are a horrible part of the game, and I think he will turn into a great winger if he can stay injury free. Bringing him into the squad was 100% the right thing to do. The only thing I would consider is if I wasnt serious about playing him, I would consider moving him in for some Aus A games at some stage. He is the only Wallabies related thing that News.com.au has reported on recently, so let's not forget the attention he pulls. We need that right now and unfortunately because we have alienated ourselves from a lot of mainstream media, we get less and less exposure.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
HM, that would be my thinking also. I doubt there was a huge line waiting to offer a bloke with his H/S history huge dollars. Also, the one year may have been RA's preferred position, not him having a bob each way. He gets to stay in AU and another season to prove to potential bidders that he is fully recovered and capable of playing out several seasons.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
Can Dean Benton please help the Rebels? :laughing:
Hoy
Roar Guru
Everyone going crook here... bloke has show in very limited bursts to be a bloody good player... but his two years of injury have hampered him big time. Last year, he absolutely showed glimpses of how good he could be if he was regularly playing. I hope his body holds up from now on.
Hoy
Roar Guru
three times as many errors as well... and I want to be a PD fan, but man... does he botch things sometimes.
jameswm
Roar Guru
You missed Pietsch. He had a terrific last handful of games.
jameswm
Roar Guru
No but you’re being reasonable…