There have been few better sights than seeing Marika Koroibete bursting down the sidelines of AAMI Park.
Marika had the ability to get Storm fans on their feet when they least expected it.
His record speaks for itself. 34 tries in 58 games across two and a half scintillating seasons in Melbourne.
Top of the table clash! Storm v Roosters, Saturday 12 August, 5:30pm at AAMI Park!
The Fijian human highlight reel departed Storm at the end of the 2016 season to pursue a career in rugby union.
His first year in union saw him finish his first season as the club’s leading try scorer with six tries in 13 Super Rugby Games.
The 25-year-old is currently in camp with the Wallabies as they prepare to take on the All Blacks next Saturday.
He admits the adjustment from league to union was a difficult one initially but the hard work is starting to pay off.
“I am learning a lot, I feel like my game is getting better every week,” Koroibete said.
“How to position myself without the ball, it took me a couple of months to adjust to that. I was struggling a bit with how to chase the ball, running side to side.
“In league you just stay as a winger but in rugby you have to chase the ball. I know my role now and I know what I need to do to improve my game.”
Koroibete has followed in the footsteps of another former Storm excitement machine, Israel Folau.
The pair have struck up a connection at the Wallabies and Koroibete credits ‘Izzy’ as playing a key role in helping him to adjust to the new game.
“If there is something I am not sure about, he is easy to interact with and communicate with,” Koroibete said.
“He has been helping me a lot. In the team meeting if there is something I am not sure about I just ask him and he is more than willing to help me.
“Also if there is anything on the field that I can do better he is right onto me. He has been a great player for the Storm and every Club he went to.”
Koroibete may no longer play for Storm but has ventured too far from the nest.
Now with the Melbourne Rebels, he often crosses paths with his former teammates around the corridors of AAMI Park.
The first time he did so was very weird he says and after almost ten months since departing the Club, his connection to those boys remains strong.
“I miss everything about the Storm," Koroibete said.
“I miss the culture and how the boys look out for each other and how the coach motivates you to work a bit harder.
“I do miss playing for the Storm, seeing the boys out there doing well, I am proud of them. I hope it will be an even better year for the Storm this year.”
And what of the Fijian winger still currently working his magic at Storm?
Koroibete is certainly across the ever-growing list of accomplishments his fellow countrymen is ticking off.
Last week Suliasi Vunivalu became the fastest player in NRL history to score 40 tries, in just 40 career games.
The pair still catch up on a regular basis.
“I contact him every week to wish him good luck, he has come so far,” Koroibete said.
“He had another great game on the weekend.
“We catch up a lot, it has been a couple of weeks but hopefully when I get back to Melbourne we will be able to catch up.”
