Luke Nadurutalo had been preparing to play for Fiji alongside Penrith premiership heroes Viliame Kikau and Api Koroisau at the Rugby League World Cup in the United Kingdom until the showcase event was postponed due to COVID-19.

In a case of when one door shuts another opens, the tackle-busting centre has signed with the Hunter Wildfires and now has his sights on the NSW Waratahs.

Nadurutalo will train with the Tahs for the next fortnight as injury cover before moving to Newcastle for the start of pre-season in November

“I am pretty excited. It would have been good to go to the World Cup,” Nadurutalo said on Tuesday.

The 29-year-old has spent the past six years in St Marys and played NSW Cup for the Panthers as well as a short stint with Penrith in the Shute Shield.

“I almost made the team in 2018. The officials rang to say I had made the final 25, then it was postponed for 12 months due to COVID.”

“I had a baby boy, TK Benjamin, born last month.”

“For the sake of the family, I don’t want to risk going all the way to the UK. I might get stuck with COVID.”

Nadurutalo, from Korolevu, Navosa grew up playing rugby union and represented the Fijian Warriors Sevens, before moving to Auckland and gaining selection in the New Zealand sevens development squad.

He made the switch to rugby league on moving to Australia in 2014 and has captained the Fiji Nines side.

Coleman spotted the powerhouse back playing for Penrith in the 2020 COVID-abbreviated Shute Shield.

He joined the Emus after the NSW Cup season was cancelled.

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