Former Lelean Memorial School student Suliasi Vunivalu has defeated all odds by forcing his way into the Melbourne Storm Nines squad and will play in this weekend’s Auckland Nines Tournament.
Vunivalu who was part of the Auckland Blues Under-18 last year moved to Melbourne after completing High School in New Zealand before linking up with the Storm’s U20 Thunderbolts.
The 19-year-old’s raw talent and athletic ability impressed in his first season with the Storm, featuring in eight Under 20 matches as well as getting the taste for senior football in the New South Wales Cup with feeder club Cronulla before injury cut his 2014 season short.
Meanwhile a total of ten Fijian players including Vunivalu will be featuring in this weekend’s tournament.
They are Sisa Waqa who will play for the Raiders, Junior Roqica for the Sharks, Marika Koroibete for the Storm, Korbin Sims for the Knights, Semi Radradra will again show his pace for the Eels, Apisai Koroisau to make his debut for the Panthers, Eto Nabuli to spearhead the Dragons backlines, Kane Evans for the Roosters and Kevin Naiqama to play for his new club the Wests Tigers.
The Auckland Nines kicks off this Saturday with the Eels taking on the Sea Eagles at 11.30am.
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