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Koroibete confirms availability for England series with more Japan-based stars expected to follow
By AAP
Marika Koroibete has fired a warning to Eddie Jones' England, saying he's a superior player to the deadly winger who left Australia last year to ply his trade in Japan.
Koroibete on Tuesday night pledged his commitment to the Wallabies for the July three-Test series, certain to be one of the three overseas-based players coach Dave Rennie is allowed to pick.
"It will be a good experience. I will bring back a lot. I'm looking forward to it," Koroibete said from Japan.
The 2019 John Eales Medallist capped a stellar inaugural Japan Rugby League One season with a try-scoring display in Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights' 18-12 final win over Suntory Sungoliath on Sunday.
Koroibete said playing under former Wallabies coach Robbie Deans had helped him become an even more complete player.
"Getting my detail right," the 29-year-old said of what he'd specifically been trying to improve.
"I've been working on my catch and pass, my decision-making under pressure. I have been given a licence to play what's in front of me. It's great. I've been given the freedom to roam on the field."
Koroibete's Wallabies future was up in the air when he left Australia, with Rennie unable to guarantee any offshore players would earn more Test caps.
But Rennie is now all but certain to call on veteran playmaker Quade Cooper and former vice-captain Samu Kerevi for the England series.
"He called me and we've been chatting about how I'm liking Japan and how the rugby is going," Koroibete said.
"We had a conversation if I am still keen to come over and play in the England series. It will be good to go back and visit Australia."
Deans expected Koroibete to prove a handful for England.
"He loves to play and the ball in his hands. If he doesn't have the ball in his hands, he finds a way to attack the game anyway," Deans said.
"Players want passionate people, enthusiastic people, positive people and Marika is all of the above."
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Latest Comments
You have to have dreams to reach for the stars, but without believing it, it won't ever happen. It's one thing to say things to the media, quite another to believe what you regurgitate just for the journalists and the public. No one is fooled, and it's the one game they knew Wales will get smashed. The Boks won 10 games without being at their best. Even on their baddest day they will smash this Wales team.
I don't really blame the players. I blame the WRU. Their best players is not available due to restrictions, small change as pay and an overly believe in their own power that amounts to nothing. Get rid of them and Gatland, and maybe their will be an upwards curve. They will lose against the Boks, and also all the games in the 6N if they keep the current board. Italy will be able to smash them.
Go to commentsFrance is starting to look like they are finally over their WC headache, although they were lucky that NZ had a very bad game. The Argies as usual is one game good, the next bad. If they can sort that out and be more consistent, they could become contenders for the WC.
NZ, Argentina (if they are more consistent), and now the Wallabies too is in an upward curve (can they be consistent?), as well as Fiji(as inconsistent as Argentina) looks like possible contenders. The Boks will be as usual a huge threat to defend their title. Things are looking up for the South, so the North should rightfully beware of the Southern Hemisphere threat.
With the French looking dangerous, the English with their close runs (mostly a mindset problem) and the Scottish seems to be the NH main contenders. The Irish is good, but not excellent anymore. They are more overbearing and with their glory days mostly gone with old players hanging on by a thread, by 2027 if they don't start adding in the younger players, they won't make it past yet another WC Quarter final. The problem is that their youngsters, while good is nothing special.
That is just 8 teams without the Irish that can become real WC contenders. Lots of hickups to be sorted still for these teams, excluding the Boks to become a threat. Make no mistake, the top Tier is much closer than people realise and the 2027 WC will be a really great WC, possibly the best contended WC ever.
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