Suliasi Vunivalu’s 23rd try of the season on Saturday night helped him achieve a feat no other player has in 38 years.
Already in the midst of a record-breaking rookie season, the entertaining winger continued to fly past records in last weekend’s Qualifying Final.
Vunivalu’s breakaway tries against the Cowboys made him the first player to score 23 tries in their debut season since Larry Corowa in 1978. It means the youngster now sits fifth on the all time list for tries scored by rookies in their opening year of first-grade.
The 20-year old is also in line to become the first Storm player to lead the competition’s try scoring since Billy Slater achieved the feat back in 2005.
Vunivalu currently sits atop of the NRL’s try scoring list, two ahead of Canberra’s Jordan Rapana.
Most tries in a debut season
29: Les Brennan (SOU) – 1954
28: Bob Lulham (BAL) – 1947
25: Ron Roberts (STG) – 1949
24: Larry Corowa (BAL) – 1978
23: Suliasi Vunivalu (MEL) – 2016
22: Noa Nadruku (CBR) – 1993
