Melbourne Rebels weren't setting up to chase Marika Koroibete, but when the Australian Rugby Union pricked the NRL star's interest, they jumped at it.
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The 23-year-old completed his move from Melbourne Storm to the Rebels on Thursday, signing a two-year deal that starts next season.
The Storm found Koroibete in the Wests Tigers' reserve grade side in 2014 bringing him to Melbourne mid-season where he quickly proved himself as one of the most dangerous wingers in the NRL scoring 27 tries in 41 Storm games.
The Rebels and ARU joint offer was significantly more than the Storm could match without additional support from the NRL.
Koroibete could come into Wallabies consideration soon after the NRL season finishes and he joins up with the Rebels but at minimum his signing will catapult the Rebels' outside backline to one of the most potent in Super Rugby with Koroibete, fellow Fijian Sefa Naivalu and Reece Hodge all expected to feature.
Despite coming from Fiji and having played international rugby league for his birth country, Koroibete is eligible for the Wallabies because he has lived in Australia for more than four years.
Koroibete said returning to rugby union would provide a big opportunity for his family.
"It was a very hard decision to make to leave Storm, but it's a great opportunity for my young family here in Melbourne and my family back home in Fiji," he said.
"I played rugby until my late teens so I'm very much looking forward to making a rugby career with the Rebels."
Rebels coach Tony McGahan said his club was one of several offered the chance to join the ARU's bid and they were overjoyed when Koroibete wanted to stay in Melbourne and not move his wife Emma and preschool-age son Iliesa.
"To have a really exciting finisher and a guy who has some x-factor about him is important in the squad," McGahan said.
"The ARU was the first port of call on Marika then they went around to the clubs [to see who might want him] and we were one of the suitors.
"With him already living in Melbourne and with things matching up in terms of our needs, we ended up in conjunction with the ARU being the place where he will play his rugby.
"There wouldn't have been any contact with Marika if the ARU didn't think he was an option for them higher up – for all parties it works out."
Koroibete's signing adds speed and try scoring to a Rebels' side who has had to work hard for points in recent seasons.
The club is also working to retain another Fijian star in Naivalu while Hodge has shown promise as a centre or winger who can break the line.
With fullback Mike Harris and long-time lock Luke Jones leaving for France at season's end, the Rebels still have much work to do to shore up their starting positions in 2017 with their defensively strong forward pack also attracting interest from other clubs.
But with more speed on the outside and a steady ownership group led by managing director Andrew Cox, the Rebels are now an appealing proposition.
"When I first came down here I would ring players to ask them to come down here and they wouldn't want to talk to us," McGahan said.
"Now we get a number of inquiries about coming to the club and to sign a quality player is always good for the club and for our fans."
The Storm released the news of Koroibete's departure on Thursday morning and in a statement Storm football director Frank Ponissi said he hoped he would finish the NRL season strongly.
"He is very popular among our players and affectionately known as the Flying Fijian among fans," Ponissi said.
"We wish Marika and his family all the best and they are always welcome back at Melbourne Storm, we know his focus will be on finishing in the best possible way with the club for the rest of the 2016 season."
