THE Melbourne Rebels have not given up hope of recruiting Queensland State of Origin star Israel Folau but in the meantime they are set to snare another prize rugby league recruit, Newcastle Knights winger Cooper Vuna.
Rebels head coach Rod Macqueen yesterday refused to comment on speculation that Vuna, who has scored seven tries from nine NRL games this season, is poised to join the new Super 15 expansion team, possibly as early as today.
The 22-year-old Auckland-raised Tongan rugby league international has been high on the Rebels' hit list right from the start, along with fellow Knights winger Akuila Uate, Kiwi Test centre Junior Sau and Tigers fullback Beau Ryan.
A "rocks and diamonds" type of player, Vuna is set to become the Rebels' 20th recruit and their second from rugby league, after St George Illawarra forward Jarrod Saffy was signed last month by Brian Waldron, virtually his last act as Rebels CEO before he was forced to resign over the Storm salary cap scandal.
That leaves only 10 more spots to fill and suddenly the Rebels, who at one stage looked to be struggling to put together a respectable playing roster, look to have the makings of a team that could make a real impact next year -- particularly if Mark Gasnier can be persuaded to remain in rugby and Folau talked into coming across.
The club still appears light-on in the front-row, despite having signed former All Black loosehead Greg Somerville and Reds scrum anchor Laurie Weeks. But Macqueen, while declining to comment on Vuna's possible move, came out in forthright fashion yesterday to quash suggestions that Wallabies and Waratahs loosehead Benn Robinson was back in his sights.
"We have not spoken to Benn Robinson for two months," Macqueen said. "He indicated to us that he was happy at the Waratahs and we broke off negotiations."
Like Reds' Wallabies winger Peter Hynes, another player no longer on the Rebels' radar, Robinson is negotiating his contract with the Australian Rugby Union, and technically remains up for grabs.
One player taken off the available list yesterday was Brumbies winger Francis Fainifo, who re-signed with the ACT for a further two years.
Fainifo looked to have missed his chance to remind Brumbies head coach Andy Friend of his value to the side when he broke his leg midway through the season against the Chiefs, missing the side's final six matches.
"It's pleasing to know that we have players of the calibre of Franky locked away beyond 2011 to ensure that the Brumbies continue to be a force beyond the World Cup," Friend said.
