Fiji, Kiwi or Aus? Suliasi Vunivalu says: "Whatever country comes first, my hands are up"

[Burns]

If Mal Meninga or David Kidwell are reading this, you will want to get in early if you want to secure the services of Suliasi Vunivalu.

Vunivalu is the game's most exciting finisher after topping the try-scorer's list in his debut NRL season. The Storm sensation was born in Fiji, moved to New Zealand and now resides in Melbourne, having played his first games of rugby league in Australia.

If he fulfils the requisite residency requirements, he could qualify for the Kangaroos, Kiwis and the Bati at representative level under the current eligibility rules, although the 20-year-old hasn't decided where to pledge his allegiance.

"I can't really say right now," Vunivalu said. "Whatever country comes first, my hands are up.
"It might be an option, the Kangaroos or the Kiwis. I've got to work hard for that."

The news should pique the interest of Australia and New Zealand officials, who could both benefit from having such a prolific try-scorer on the end of their back line. Recent changes to eligibility rules will allow Vunivalu to represent his native Fiji when not playing for the Roos or Kiwis, but there is no movement allowed between the three top-tier nations.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...ween-kangaroos-and-kiwis-20160930-grsmou.html

This is what it is now. It's kinda hilarious.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

He doesn't qualify for NZ or Australia. He's lived in Australia for two years and before that he was in NZ for two years. He'd need to stay for three more years to qualify for Australia and he'll piss of to union before then like all the other Fijians.

 

[roughyedspud]

The sport only has itself to blame..its now part of the culture wheres players know you can f**k and fanny about

 

[roughyedspud]

This is what pisses me off about RL journos,5mins research is all it takes to not make the sport look like a f**king joke..

Hes not eligible for nz

Hes not eligible for oz for another 3 years

So actually hes only,currently,eligible for fiji


So wheres the f**king story?????

 

[adamkungl]

Island pride right there

 

[deluded pom?]

Island pride right there

Come on adam, have some sympathy for the guy. He'll be on peanuts at the Storm, it's not a long career, he needs to maximise his earnings, he'll have an extended family of thousands he has to support single handedly etc. etc.

 

[Mr Angry]

Or goto onion

 

[Mr Angry]

These are the choices the other bloke went there, will come back too

 

[roughyedspud]

Come on adam, have some sympathy for the guy. He'll be on peanuts at the Storm, it's not a long career, he needs to maximise his earnings, he'll have an extended family of thousands he has to support single handedly etc. etc.

Hes probably on minimum wage of $80k to be fair,cos its his first year..but his next contract will easily be $400k+

 

[deluded pom?]

Hes probably on minimum wage of $80k to be fair,cos its his first year..but his next contract will easily be $400k+

My bad. Sorry Suliasi.

 

[roughyedspud]

Don't be sorry for him,he probably got a ton of bonuses lol .

My point was by the time hes eligible for australia he'll have likely signed a multi year million dollar contract somewhere...and what he could earn playing a test for australia would be about what he earns a month for his club....

 

[Bobby DIGital]

So this means he'll be in the Kangaroos squad with Semi then.

 

[roughyedspud]

He can't be..he doesn't meet the residency criteria yet

 

[Matua]

How does the residency work? Is it three years of five years and does schooling count? RLIF site says three years.

I think he was in NZ at 15, so theoretically he could have spent three years in NZ - IIRC he was in the 1st XV for three years.

In saying that he should be playing for Fiji (and Kata should be playing for Tonga).

 

[roughyedspud]

No...you have to live in the country for the 5 year immidiately prior to being selected..

You can't live in a country for 5 years as a kid,move out the country and still qualify via residency..

The RLIF site hasn't been updated...residency was changed from 3 to 5 years a month ago

 

[myrrh ken]

he'll piss of to union before then like all the other Fijians.

Well that's where he was poached from