The man who took this year’s NRL competition by storm as he set a new try scoring record is in the country.

Melbourne Storm winger Suliasi Vunivalu arrived into Suva late Monday night and indicated that he is excited to attend his former team mate Marika Koroibete’s wedding today.

“I’m happy to be home and excited to see Koroibete walk down the aisle,” he told SUNsports yesterday.

“It feels really good to be back home. Everyone is excited to see me and I feel happy for that. I left on the first of January, last year and it has really been too long since then.

“Marika is a really good bloke and I cannot wait to see him walk down that aisle and I cannot wait to see him in his suit or traditional outfit that he will be wearing. This is his big day and I am thankful that I can be part of that and I am looking forward to it.”

Making headlines in Australia with his outstanding performance, questions are popping up whether he would be looking to play for the Australian Kangaroos or the Vodafone Fijian Bati, but the 20-year-old says he is happy where he is at the moment.

“At the moment I am focusing on the National Rugby League (NRL).

“The Fijian Bati or the Kangaroos will come in due time but right now my focus is being consistent in the NRL. Of course there are questions of whether I will play for the Bati but I cannot answer that at the moment, we will have to see what the future has in store for me.

“In regards to offers coming through to switch to union, I have another year with the Melbourne Storm and I am committed to them and apart from that, I will make my decision after I have completed my contract with the Storm.

“For the time being, I need to work hard to maintain my position because there is a lot of young boys next year and a lot of great signings for the Storm so I will need to work hard in the pre-season build up.”

Playing his first year in the NRL, Vunivalu has turned a lot of heads and has won multiple awards including Rookie of the Year and the Dally M Top Try Scorer.

He has credited his success to his family and friends who have supported him since before he got into rugby.

“My first year in the NRL has been really good, especially with no injuries so this year has been an excellent one for me with the amount of games I have played and how far I have come. The awards I won are just a bonus for the hard work I have put in and I am pretty happy with where I am at.

“At the moment without the people around me in Toorak and my home town I don’t think I would be where I am today. I am thankful to be where I am and I am thankful for the people who have had my back like my family, friends and of course my supporters. I have always been in contact with my family before and after every game since I got into the NRL and they have been my rock.

“Obviously there will be expectations of me especially coming home and that I need to set a good example to everyone.”

Vunivalu will return to Melbourne next week Wednesday.

Edited by Leone Cabenatabua

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