Wallabies star Marika Koroibete set to make multi-million dollar move abroad

In the last two years, he has become a regular Wallaby under former coach Michael Cheika and current coach Dave Rennie.

The 28-year-old’s meteoric rise has seen his value soar, but Koroibete’s camp believe another year of both Super Rugby and Test rugby could see him fetch close to $1 million per season in what will be the most lucrative contract of his career.

The Wallabies play France in a three-Test series in July and a strong performance against the rising European force would be particularly valuable given offers for the Fijian flyer have come from French clubs.

Neither RA nor the Rebels have started discussions with Koroibete regarding his future. Those discussions are set to begin towards the end of the Super Rugby AU season.

“We’d like him to continue,” Rebels chief executive Baden Stephenson told the Herald. ”Clearly he’s a player that is highly respected and a guy the Rebels and Rugby Australia would like to keep.

“Marika is in our leadership group and he’s as invested as I’ve ever seen him.”

The near $1 million price tag doubles his current salary and would almost certainly see RA and the Rebels priced out of retaining the winger.

Another former Storm winger, Suliasi Vunivalu, was lured across to rugby on a deal worth just under $600,000 per year but that was signed before COVID-19 drastically changed the financial landscape.

While the loss of Koroibete would be a blow, wing is one of the few positions in which the Wallabies have depth.

Tom Wright and Filipo Daugunu showed promise during Rennie’s first season in charge but the Wallabies may have a like-for-like replacement for Koroibete in Vunivalu.

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In the NRL, Vunivalu was an elite finisher and explosive ball carrier. Koroibete has shown those skills are transferable but Vunivalu’s Super Rugby career is just 16 minutes old.

Koroibete could also potentially be recalled for Wallabies duties under RA’s modification to the Giteau Law.

Prior to last year, players required 60 or more Test caps to ply their trade abroad and be eligible for national selection.

But RA tweaked the 60 Test minimum last year, opening the door for coach Dave Rennie to recall two players who did not meet the threshold.

Rennie was initially thought to be interested in Rory Arnold, Samu Kerevi and Tolu Latu.

Arnold would have been called into the squad which contested the Tri Nations had it not been for injury but Rennie opted to leave Kerevi and Latu in Japan and France, respectively.

RA have not indicated whether the Giteau Law would revert to its normal rules in 2021.