You'd struggle to wipe the smile off Suliasi Vunivalu's face as he talks about what it means to be on the verge of a Wallabies debut.
Given the journey he's been on, he has every reason to be after he was named on the bench for the deciding Test against England at the SCG on July 16.
“It’s been a long time coming with a couple of setbacks last year,” Vunivalu told reporters.
“The main goal last year coming over to rugby was to play for Reds and don the gold jersey. I feel grateful to be able to play in this third game and decider in Sydney.
“I’m fully excited and can’t wait…just to look back with all the setbacks, watching the boys last year and the Spring Tour. I was doing my rehab in Melbourne, itching to get back and now the day has come.”
Vunivalu's rugby union journey has been a rollercoaster ever since he was dropped straight into Wallaby camp after his intercept try helped Melbourne Storm to the 2020 NRL Premiership.
Before he had the chance to pull on the Reds jersey, he was forced to face the cameras and apologise after allegedly shoving a security guard, stood down from their opening match against the Waratahs.
Whilst he showcased his talent when he got the chance to take the field, a pair of hamstring injuries limited him to just 13 appearances in two years.
This led the 26-year-old down into a 'dark place', wondering if he had made the right move as talk of the big money transfer returning to rugby league started to grow.
“I was in a really dark place,” Vunivalu explained to reporters.
“That thought did come in my mind (about) did I make the right decision coming over… I was playing some really good footy and then I did my hammy and then did it again, that’s when I started to think ‘far out, I’ve never done this before in (rugby) league, maybe the game is different here’ so I just had to readjust my training programs."
However, Vunivalu managed to find consistency towards the back-end of the Super Rugby Pacific season, playing seven of the last eight games to push his claims for Wallabies selection.
Before he could be called into the matchday squad, Wallabies coach Dave Rennie wanted to challenge him on and off the training paddock.
"We know he's a good athlete but we want to get him sharp and running fast," Rennie said last week
"He's quicker than what he's shown at Super (Rugby) level. We reckon he's ready to fly, he's got to convince us at training that he can go balls out."
This includes improving his work off the ball, something fellow league convert Marika Koroibete has become renowned for.
“Coming in here, it’s that expectation from different coaches. They expect you to do things I don’t do back in club level that I know I’m missing in my game like positioning, being busy in the game,” he suggests.
“A lot of the four weeks we’ve had on the Sunny Coast I’ve worked a lot on that. The coaching staff make you get better in those areas…I’m definitely a better player than I was a month ago.
“I was at the game last week and we as players not picked are asked to review the game and send in our review to the coaching staff, we’re not just watching the game….We’ll have the team out this weekend trying to implement that into the game and look for those space or kick opportunities. Just those little things."
Starting as a finisher is unfamiliar territory for Vunivalu, twice coming off the bench for the Reds in 2021.
He showed his impact against the Highlanders, flying high to record a double in a Queensland side well and truly defeated.
Wallabies coach Dave Rennie joked he's prepared to bring the Reds flyer on from minute one considering their luck with injuries to outside backs.
With limited fullback and flyhalf cover, it's expected Reece Hodge and Tom Wright will provide cover, clearing the way for his injection.
Regardless of the situation, Vunivalu is clear about his role when/if he gets the chance to become Wallaby 954.
"I just have to be me. Play the footy, get myself involved, communicate well and help the other players out," he added.
