In a case of when one door shuts another opens, the tackle-busting centre has signed with the Hunter Wildfires and now has his sights on the NSW Waratahs.

Nadurutalo will train with the Tahs for the next fortnight as injury cover before moving to Newcastle for the start of pre-season in November

"I am pretty excited," Nadurutalo said. "I am underdone fitness-wise but hopefully I can show the Waratahs enough. All these years, I have been trying to make it to the top level but have only reached the second tier, semi pro."

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The 29-year-old has spent the past six years in St Marys and played NSW Cup for the Panthers as well as a short stint with Penrith in the Shute Shield.

"It would have been good to go to the World Cup," Nadurutalo said. "I almost made the team in 2018. This time, officials rang to say I had made the final 25, then it was postponed for 12 months due to COVID.

"I had a baby boy, TK Benjamin, born last month. For the sake of the family, I don't want to risk going all the way to the UK. I might get stuck with COVID.

"I thought, I'd give it another try with rugby and we made the decision to come up to Newcastle."

Nadurutalo, from the highlands above Sigatoka on the Coral Coast, grew up playing rugby union and represented the Fijian Warriors Sevens, before moving to Auckland and gaining selection in the New Zealand sevens development squad.

He made the switch to rugby league on moving to Australia in 2014 and has captained the Fiji Nines side.

Coleman spotted the powerhouse back playing for Penrith in the 2020 COVID-abbreviated Shute Shield. He joined the Emus after the NSW Cup season was cancelled.

"He was one of the best players in the competition," Coleman said. "I chased him last year but he wanted to make the Fiji Bati World Cup team. Now the World Cup has been postponed, he wants to pursue higher honours in rugby.

"He will give us really good go forward. He is an X-factor, has an offload and is very mobile."

Naduratalo hopes to follow a similar path to a number of Wildfires last year. Joe Tamani (Fiji Drua) and Henry Stowers (Moana Pacifika) have earned Super Rugby contracts for 2022, while OJ Noah is with the Sharks in South Africa and Nate De Thierry and Kirk Tufuga have professional contracts in Spain.

"I am pretty excited to start something new," Nadurutalo said. "I have been talking to Scott since the end of last season. I said if you can put me in the shop window of the Waratahs I am happy to give up league and come there."

Naduratalo follows the addition of fly-half Connor Winchester (Norths) and breakaway Donny Freeman (Easts) and return from Sydney of halfback Jack Young (Manly).

Coleman said bolstering the tight five was now the priority.

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