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AAP
AAP
Jasper Bruce

NRL's Melbourne Storm lock in historic Fiji trial game

Fijian Tui Kamikamica is set to play an NRL trial for Melbourne against Newcastle on home soil. (Dave Hunt/AAP PHOTOS)

Fiji will host its first NRL-sanctioned fixture when Melbourne meet Newcastle in a 2024 pre-season trial game.

The Storm are organising the fixture, which will be played on February 24 at Churchill Park in Lautoka, the Pacific nation's second-largest city.

NRL players last featured in a competitive match in Fiji in 2019, when the National Stadium in Suva hosted the Prime Minister's XIII match between Australia and the locals.

As the NRL prepares for its 2024 season openers to take place in Las Vegas, Melbourne see the trial match as a chance to develop the game internationally.

"We are very excited about bringing the first ever NRL match to Fiji," said Storm chief executive Justin Rodski.

"We already have a lot of Fijian talent within our game, and this serves as an incredible opportunity to not only grow the sport we love but help develop the next wave of talent and hopefully give more young men and women the chance to play NRL or NRLW."

Under Craig Bellamy, Melbourne have had a history of unearthing and championing Fijian talent, with Fiji Bati captain Tui Kamikamica the most notable current example.

Fiji-born wingers Marika Koroibete and Suliasi Vunivalu both had success with the Storm before hopping codes to become mainstays at the Wallabies.

Outside back Sisa Waqa was a member of Melbourne's 2012 premiership-winning side as well.

Fiji Bati are currently seventh on the International Rugby League rankings and most recently won two of three matches in the post-NRL season Pacific Championships.

Jahream Bula, Maika Sivo, Sunia Turuva and Viliame Kikau are among the household names in the NRL who are of Fijian heritage.

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