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Vunivalu out to create second season storm

Melbourne winger Suliasi Vunivalu says he's ready to improve on his stunning debut season which saw him top the NRL for tries.

Suliasi Vunivalu
Melbourne Storm try-scoring machine Suliasi Vunivalu has warned rivals his best is yet to come. (AAP)

Melbourne Storm try-scoring machine Suliasi Vunivalu has warned rivals his best is yet to come.

The 21-year-old started last season expecting to play in Melbourne's feeder side but finished as the NRL's top tryscorer, crossing the line 23 times

Battling shoulder and knee injuries early in his career, Vunivalu will go into 2017 with his first full pre-season under his belt and says he's feeling fitter and stronger than ever.

"I don't want to be comfortable with how I finished last year," the Fijian-born winger said.

"There's heaps of players in the backline here waiting for a crack so you've got to be at 100 per cent in training and playing."

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As the competition's leading scorer and part of their grand final lineup, Vunivalu knows he's no chance of going under the radar this season.

While the Storm lost Marika Koroibete to rugby, Vunivalu and new addition ex-Tiger speedster Josh Addo-Carr, will be key weapons in their attack.

"I know it's going to be tough this year as a lot of teams are going to know what I'm capable of," said Vunivalu, who last month re-signed until the end of 2018.

"I've just got to work hard to play a bit different this time."

Vunivalu said he was well-aware of second-year syndrome, which sees some outstanding rookies drop in form and confidence at the top level.

"Coming into pre-season this year my whole mentality was that last year was really fun and what I did was fun but coming into my second (season) will be challenging so I've given it my all in the pre-season," he said.

"I'm looking forward to the challenge."


2 min read

Published

Source: AAP



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