Storm winger Marika Koroibete confirms switch to Super Rugby’s Melbourne Rebels
http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/stor...50c6b93d9f4811
STAR NRL winger Marika Koroibete has advised Melbourne Storm of his decision to quit rugby league and join cross-code rivals Melbourne Rebels next season.
As reported by the Herald Sun last week, Koroibete will link with the Rebels from next season.
The Fijian flyer will join the Super Rugby franchise on a two-year deal after receiving a lucrative joint offer from the Rebels and Australian Rugby Union. It was an offer that Storm could not compete with.
“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.
“While I have made the decision about next year, my focus is on finishing here at Storm in the best way, it’s a tight group of players and hopefully we can have a good rest of the season.
“I am very excited about what we can do this season.”
Koroibete has played 57 NRL games, 41 of those for Storm, and has scored 27 tries for the club.
An AAMI Park favourite, Koroibete will not have to move far next season.
Storm and Rebels are both based at AAMI Park and share the same training and administration facilities.
“He is very popular amongst our players and affectionately known as the Flying Fijian amongst fans,” Storm football manager Frank Ponissi said.
“We totally understand though this was a very tough decision for him and he has made it in the best interests of his partner Emma and young son Iliesa.
“We wish Marika and his family all the best and they are always welcome back at Melbourne Storm, we know his focus will be on finishing in the best possible way with the club for the rest of the 2016 season.”
Good signature for the Rebels. Interesting that it seems it was a big money offer with the ARU involved and the storm were unable to match it. All the while the ARU pumps money into a privately owned organisation.
They have a backline full of talent now. Crawford is out of contract for 2017 maybe we can coax him across he has been injured but has hardly been seen.
