NRL star Koroibete joins Rebels

Editor

The Melbourne Rebels have lured NRL star Marika Koroibete to Super Rugby from 2017.

The 23-year-old, regarded as one of the most electrifying talents in the National Rugby League (NRL), will swap codes next year after agreeing to a two-year deal with Super Rugby’s Rebels.

The Fijian winger has scored 39 tries in 57 games with the Wests Tigers (2014) and Melbourne Storm (2014) since he made his first grade NRL debut in 2012.

“Marika’s exceptional strength, explosive speed and try scoring ability makes him a handful for opponents and we feel his attributes will be well suited to Rebels Rugby,” Melbourne Rebels General Manager Rugby Operations Baden Stephenson said.

Melbourne Rebels Managing Director Andrew Cox said “it’s an exciting signing for the Melbourne Rebels, Victorian and Australian Rugby.”

“The signature of Marika Koroibete is an endorsement of the Rebels growing part of Melbourne’s sporting culture and vision to become a world leading Rugby club on and off the field.”

Koroibete, considered one of the fastest players in the NRL, finished last year as the Melbourne Storm’s leading try-scorer (16 tries) and has scored five tries in eight appearances this season.

Since making his international debut at the 2013 Rugby League World Cup against Ireland, Koroibete has represented Fiji on seven occasions, which includes two tries in a Man of the Match performance against Papua New Guinea in his last outing last year.

“It was a very hard decision to make to leave Storm, but it’s a great opportunity for my young family here in Melbourne and my family back home in Fiji,” Koroibete said.

“I played Rugby until my late teens so I’m very much looking forward to making a Rugby career with the Rebels.”