Wallabies assistant coach Stephen Larkham says powerhouse Test centre Tevita Kuridrani turned down "big offers" from overseas to stay on with Australian rugby for another two years.
Larkham, who doubles as Brumbies head coach, has been pivotal in securing Kuridrani's services until the end of 2017, and likened him to former Wallabies and Brumbies captain Stirling Mortlock.
"We've been chasing Tevita for a while now," Larkham said.
"Like everyone in our squad we want to retain them, but Tevita was certainly at the top of our tree."
"He's big, fast, physical and has a good combination with the players around him - all at the age of 23.
"So he's got a big future ahead."
Since his Wallabies debut in September 2013, Kuridrani has enjoyed the lion's share of the No.13 jersey ahead of France-bound "Mr Fix-It" Adam Ashley-Cooper.
"He has made that position his own," Larkham said.
"He's certainly the best centre in Australia, if not the world, at the moment."
Yet the Fijian-born outside centre isn't without his critics.
In a scathing assessment of a number of Brumbies players, Wallabies great David Campese on the weekend said Kuridrani "never passes the ball".
However Larkham was quick to defend his latest re-signing.
"It comes down to your game plan and how you want to use your outside centre," Larkham said.
"Someone like Stirling Mortlock was a pretty good centre at international standard, and he didn't pass the ball a lot but we used him in other ways.
"It's the same as Tevita. He's big, physical and certainly defends very well.
"In attack we use him as a ball carrier."
Adds Kuridrani: "Mortlock is one of my biggest idols. He was a strong runner, and I try to assimilate my ball carries to him.
"I don't want to be distracted (by the Campese criticism). I've heard about it, but will just continue to play my rugby."
Kuridrani says he turned down the overseas offers for a number of reasons, including his desire to play for the Wallabies and the coaching style of Larkham.
"Canberra is home now. I've been here for four years and have good mates here," Kuridrani said.
"I still have some goals I need to achieve in Australia before I leave.
"One of my biggest goals is to secure that No.13 jersey.
"My signing is also about loyalty and giving back to the club. I came here as a winger and they developed me."
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