Wallabies Koroibete wants home Test win

Wallabies winger Marika Koroibete will play for the first time in front of his parents who've flown from Fiji for the second Test against Ireland in Melbourne.

Marika Koroibete of the Wallabies

Wallaby Marika Koroibete will play in front of his parents in the second Ireland Test in Melbourne. (AAP)

For all the success he has had in Melbourne, in the NRL with the Storm and at Super Rugby's Rebels, a Wallabies victory on Saturday night will be extra sweet for Marika Koroibete.

The bustling Fijian winger will play his first rugby Test at AAMI Park when he runs on in game two against Ireland, and his parents will be there to watch him for the first time in the Australian jersey.

Koroibete's parents, father Iliesa and mother Sainiyana, have flown from their Suva home for his ninth Test.

They only saw him play once for the Storm during his 58-game NRL career.

"It would be a good feeling to win playing for Australia there, especially with my parents watching me," Koroibete said.

"It would be more special to me."

Koroibete said playing at the Melbourne ground where he made a name for himself felt like coming home.

"I've got some good memories at AAMI Park and, hopefully, I can make some more on the weekend," he said.

"It feels like home for me and feel more confident playing there and, hopefully, I can get a try."

The 25-year-old has scored four tries for the Wallabies since last year's debut but coach Michael Cheika says he brings more to the side than just points.

He noted how hard Koroibete worked off the ball, while he crunched Irish halfback Conor Murray with a bone-rattling tackle that helped to set the scene early in the opening Test win.

"What Marika does is that he works so hard and he loves his footy," Cheika said.

"He's all over the field in support and he's a great defensive player so it's up to him to raise the bar for himself this weekend and maybe that includes getting a few tries."

Koroibete said his hard work ethic started during his three seasons from 2014-16 at the Storm.

"It's something I learnt at the Storm," he said.

"They work hard there so it's in me - I don't have to think about it."


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Source: AAP



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