Wallabies great Marika Koroibete set to retire from Tests

Wallabies great Marika Koroibete set to retire from Tests
0 0
Read Time:3 Minute, 13 Second

SAINT-ETIENNE: Wallabies great Marika Koroibete has likely played his last Test after informing the team of his plans to retire after the Rugby World Cup in France.

Koroibete has been one of the few genuine world class Wallabies players in recent seasons and is in an exclusive club as a dual John Eales Medallist with wins in 2019 and 2022.

The dynamic winger was also named in World Rugby’s team of the year last season.

Watch all the action from Rugby World Cup 2023 on the home of rugby, Stan Sport. Every match ad free, live and on demand in 4K UHD

The 31-year-old scored his first try of the 2023 World Cup in Monday’s (AEDT) 34-14 win over Portugal that kept Australia’s faint quarter-final hopes alive.

The Wallabies need Koroibete’s native Fiji to trip up and not gain any points in Monday’s final pool game against Portugal in Toulouse.

That is highly unlikely and Koroibete was full of emotion as he embraced teammates after playing his 59th Test at Stade Geoffroy-Guichard.

READ MORE: ‘Need to know…’ Greats demand Eddie Jones clarity

READ MORE: Try blitz against Portugal keeps Wallabies in hunt

READ MORE: Wallabies keep slim hopes alive with bonus point win

“It was awesome mate,” Wallabies prop Pone Fa’amausili told Wide World of Sports.

“We had Slips (James Slipper) who’s reached the most Tests in the World Cup (for Australia) and Marika, it’s his last Test. I think he’s retiring from Test footy.”

Koroibete has a young family and a well paid job in Japan with Panasonic Wild Knights.

NEW PODCAST! Michael Atkinson, Sam Worthington and Tom Decent review Australia’s rollercoaster win over Portugal and the strange state of affairs at the Rugby World Cup in France

He is yet to make an announcement about his Wallabies future.

“I think he spoke earlier to Eddie (Jones) when he had a one on one with him,” Fa’amausili said.

“And I’m real close to Marika and he definitely spoke to me, before we came to France, that this will be his last time putting on the gold jersey for the Wallabies.

“I’m real gutted that I won’t be able to play with him ever again because I played with him at the Rebels and I’m really grateful to share the field with him. He’s obviously one of my best mates and you couldn’t ask for more out of a player.

“He’s ultimately one of the best, if not the best, winger in the world.”

If it is to be his last Test, Koroibete went out with a bang, rattling Portugal ball carriers with several thunderous hits.

“He seemed angry, Marika on the night, he seemed angry,” former Wallabies captain James Horwill told Stan Sport’s RWC 2023 Central.

“He wanted to be a part of everything, chasing down and you felt a bit nervous for some of the Portuguese guys.

“You could hear the footsteps coming as he came through the midfield on kick chase. So it’s good to see him back at his angry best.

“He’s been a bit quiet by his own lofty standards for, you know, this tournament. So it’s great to see him back in that ball ball running but also damaging best with defensively.”

Wallabies assistant coach Dan Palmer hinted that several Wallabies would soon hang up the Test boots.

“It is the end of the line for some people,” Palmer said on Monday.

“Some for whom this tournament will be the last time with the Wallabies. So there is mixed emotions. We spoke about performances but just trying to enjoy the time together we’ve got with this group for the last few weeks.”

Happy
Happy
0 %
Sad
Sad
0 %
Excited
Excited
0 %
Sleepy
Sleepy
0 %
Angry
Angry
0 %
Surprise
Surprise
0 %
Previous post Philadelphia journalist Josh Kruger is shot and killed by intruder in his two-story townhouse: Suspect shot him seven times in the abdomen and chest before fleeing
Next post Fulham 0 – 2 Chelsea