Suli Vunivalu admits he was in a dark place as he battled hamstring injuries, wondering if he’d made a mistake in swapping league for union.
The former Melbourne Storm star was named Thursday on the bench for the deciding Test against England in Sydney on Saturday and hopes to bring some of the intensity shown in his former code during Wednesday night’s State of Origin clash to the 15-man game.
“It’s been a long time coming with a couple of setbacks last year,” said Vunivalu of his belated call up. “The main goal coming over to rugby was obviously to play for the Reds and to don this gold jersey.
“I feel really grateful to be able to be picked, especially in this big Test game in Sydney. Watching the boys last year getting picked for the Spring Tour while I was doing my rehab in Melbourne, I was just like itching to be there one day. Now the day has come and I’m just really excited.”
Back to back hamstring injuries restricted him to just six appearances in 2021. He had more success this year but the Reds struggled. Doubts were inevitable.
“I was actually in a really dark place,” Vunivalu said. “That thought came in my mind: Did I really do a right decision to come over? I just had to look at it in a positive way. It’s just a small setback. I needed to stay positive.”
“It’s a massive credit to myself and everyone who’s helped me throughout the process. And I’m just really grateful for all the staff at the Reds and here at the Wallabies to help me get to this stage.”
The worst moment was his second hamstring injury.
“I was playing really good footy and then at the back end I just did my second hammy,” Vunivalu said.
“I thought ‘far out I’ve never done this in league before, maybe the game is different here in union.’ So I just readjusted some of my training programs and the trainers here have helped me with that.”
Dave Rennie has eased his transition into the national team, with the prospect he will be part of next year’s World Cup plans, but the past four weeks in camp has been an education.
“Coming in here there’s that expectation from the different coaches,” he said.
“They expect you to do things that I usually don’t do back in club level that I know I’m missing in my game, like positioning, being busy all the time.
“And throughout that four weeks that we had at Sunny Coast I have worked really hard on that and obviously, you let the coaching staff make you get better in those particular areas. I’m a better player than I was a month ago.”
I asked Vunivalu if he missed rugby league when he was watching the State of Origin decider.
He smiled and answered diplomatically.
“I just like watching it and just zoning in to watch the players you played with and played against,” Vunivalu said. “State of Origin is a massive game here this time of the year, everyone’s just zoning to watch it and cheer for their state.”
But after four weeks of going back to Dave Rennie’s finishing school for code hoppers, the Origin battle has Vunivalu craving the red meat of battle.
“After watching that game it just made me look forward for the Saturday game with that intensity right from the star,” he said.
“We’ve been lacking that with the Wallabies in the first 20 so if we can bring that up and shut the Pommies up then we’ll do a good job and be having a good yarn at the end of the game.”
Suliasi Vunivalu poses for a photo before an Australian Wallabies training session on June 21, 2022 in Sunshine Coast, Australia. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
Rennie has worked on Vunivalu increasing his involvement in attack.
“I’ve not done that enough this year. This but this past month being in this camp, has made me work hard from being busy and just looking for work around the park.
“I just have to be me. Play the footy, get myself involved, communicate well and help the other players out.”
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
If Gary Player was unhappy with his efforts during the last couple of holes he, Gary Player, told himself to go back out and play them again. Don Bradman improved his skills by taking a cricket stump and a golf ball out the back, batted the ball onto the water tank for hours, to discover that his reactions miraculously improved. I don't suppose the Elite Pathways Cricket Academy Professor at Bowral suggested that to him ... sounds a bit "do it yourself", eh? John Raper routinely got to the end of a big night on the turps and ran home. He seemed able to work out how to make it to the top all by himself. As Double Agent points out (just below here) Suliasi Vunivalu has an expectation that whoever is responsible had better get a wriggle on, do his job and put a green tick alongside his name. Sensei Rennie said in 2020 that "there’s no plan to use Suli in the two Argentina games unless we have got a spate of injuries," adding, "the key for him is to earn the right to play and [we are] keen to reward the guys who have been working for the last three months." For a bloke as circumspect, as guarded, as Rennie that's a rather blunt message don't you think?
Jane
Roar Rookie
There has been like three major RUGBY stories featuring people talking about origin this week. Is this a channel 9 thing?
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
PD, it's sad that he is so inflexible.
Nick Maguire
Roar Rookie
pm, I look at it this way. Do you improve the team more by adding the last back in the squad who isn't injured, who is a sub optimal winger, because you always play a 5/3, or do add another forward who is international standard and take advantage that way? Which is the net gain? I know what I would do and to be honest it concerns me a little to see that inflexibility from the coach. In the safety sphere I say the most dangerous phrase is "we've always done it that way" but I think it also applies here as well as to any continuous improvement programme. Do you have a 5/3 because you've always done it that way?
Reds Harry
Roar Rookie
Vunivalu has a clear role model to follow in Korebete, who has turned himself into a world class winger through hard work. Its really impressive how Koribete upped his work rate and off the ball work to go with his undoubted talents as a finisher. I'm astonished to hear SV say he's a better player after a month in the Wallaby training camp. Lets see on the field. Great if true though what on earth has he and the coaches been doing at the Reds for the last 2 seasons?
Double Agent
Guest
Reading his comments I get the sense that in his mind his selection for the Wallabies is 'it's about time too'.
Barney
Roar Rookie
The boys are going have to play outside of their skin for this one. Can we maintain the rage?
pm
Roar Rookie
I do remember that.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
Hooper has actually played 12 at an international level, in the first British and Irish lions test in 2013, in the final 30 minutes after multiple injuries. He did pretty well too.
pm
Roar Rookie
Yeah. Sone will say it's ridiculous to think so, but i think either could play centre far better than most backrowers could; Hooper more defensively, Samu attack-wise
Guess
Roar Rookie
And they say league is harder
Dean
Roar Rookie
Go Suli!! Great to see him running out in Wallabies Colours.
Rhys Bosley
Roar Pro
With Hooper and Samu on the team and as mobile as most centres, I don't reckon the Wallabies would have suffered with 6/2.
Grev
Roar Rookie
Luckily based on our backline injuries last two games….
Derek Murray
Roar Rookie
With the number of injuries to back 3 players it was likely he'd get a cap somewhere. Best of luck to him. I hope the immense physical talent is given the chance to shine. He just needs to look at Cokanasiga for how not to play as a big physical specimen. Watch Korobeite as a guide, rather
Reframe
Roar Rookie
TH, This also raises the question of mental health and how it is being addressed both individually and as a business wide initiative. Hopefully this gets as much attention as head injuries caused by physical contact. One only needs to read Sir John Kirwans book to catch the drift.
Charlie Turner
Guest
6:2 is anathema to kiwi coaches.
pm
Roar Rookie
It seems not. Maybe the sense here is Hodge just kicking some long and Suli and Marika trying to run onto them. Hodge isn't much of a precision kicker though. Outside QC, Suli would make some sense. Maybe if Loeliso can stay aggressive and break lines again he can generate good opportunities.
Paul D
Roar Rookie
Rennie doesn’t do 6:2’s
Paul D
Roar Rookie
I’ve been one of the many who’s questioned your value. By all means feel free to put me in my place! I will welcome it.