The Melbourne Storm is looking to bring a home competition fixture to Fiji in 2025.
This is after they had a successful trial match against Newcastle Knights at Churchill Park in Lautoka in February, winning the encounter 28-10.
Storm CEO Justin Rodski said while they realized that rugby union was still a code of choice in Fiji, the interest in rugby league was evident in the country.
“Rugby union is still the No.1 sport in Fiji, but rugby league’s growing. From us being there and having a presence, I think that this is just the start of something pretty special for what could be a long-term play for the NRL in the Pacific.”
“If you look at Fiji now as an opportunity for a premiership game, everything is there now for the NRL and for the clubs to seriously consider for 2025,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski.
“We saw first-hand the impact it had on the community, the engagement from the community, attendance at the game, the love of rugby league.”
Speaking to Nine News, Rodski said it was time that the NRL give serious thought to bringing the game to Fiji and the rest of the Pacific.
“More than 50 per cent of the competition are from Pacific Island nations. So we’d be silly not to continue to invest in going to those regions, having an impact with the community and also bringing games there because that is the most important thing.”
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