Having bared the brunt of the Strom’s injury curse this season, the club’s outside backs have just received a much-needed mid-season boost.
Melbourne has announced the signing of Wests Tigers winger Marika Koroibete for the remainder of the 2014 season and an additional two years.
Koroibete joins the Storm after a two-year stint at Wests that saw him score 12 tries in just 16 NRL games.
The Fijian international will provide some much needed depth to a Storm side that has been limited for choice on the outside this season.
Injuries have seen Melbourne scrambling at times for Mr-Fix-It with Matt Duffie (knee) out for the season and Justin O’Neill (ankle) not expected back for at least a month.
Will Chambers has also missed three games this season, putting further strain on options out wide.
First year players Young Tonumaipea, who has played every games this season, and Kurt Mann (five tries in six games) have impressed but as the back end of the season approaches, their younger bodies may begin to wear.
Koroibete will join fellow 21-year-olds Mann, Tonumaipea and Mahe Fonua as the Storms crop of young and enthusiastic outside runners.
Storm football director Frank Ponisi says they are grateful to make such an exciting mid-season addition.
“An opportunity came up to bolster our depth to our outside backs and with limited chances at the Tigers this season, we saw Marika as an exciting talent who was coming off contract at the end of the season,” Ponissi said.
“Marika has displayed outstanding form in the NSW Cup, he is the leading try scorer of the competition with 15 and we see his signing as adding strength to our roster.”
Melbourne has confirmed Koroibete will commence training with the club immediately.
4 year with the @Wests_Tigers was awesome now I have to move on with my life #thanksforthememory#gonnamissthebrothers#yts#byesydney
— mkoroibete (@MarikaKoroibete) June 20, 2014
