Uncle Nick strikes back?

[ChookMaster]

SMH reporting that we are chasing Mark Nawaqanitawase who is 23 years of age and plays wing for the wallabies and is considered a huge talent.

Thoughts?

[ChookMaster]

Sorry for not posting more info about him I don’t know the 15 man game too well but he has been likened to Izzy due to his style and body type by former players and he also has a background in league - played up until he was 14.

[The Brain]

23? Should be coming into his prime not learning rugby league ..dont waste your time. STAYVIN THE CRAP CODE WHERE YOU NEVER get the ball and do jack shit

[Inflictor]

Unless PVL decides to go to 15 players on the field (wouldn't put anything passed this clown) where are we going to use this guy with all the wings and centres we have ffs?

[MKCS]

Unless PVL decides to go to 15 players on the field (wouldn't put anything passed this clown) where are we going to use this guy with all the wings and centres we have ffs?

Don't follow the 15 man game but apparently this fella can play fullback according to Wikipedia. With Manu potentially leaving, Suaalii leaving and Tedesco retiring soon he might want to try and develop a future fullback star.

[Horry]

Tension between the Sydney Roosters and Rugby Australia is set to explode with the NRL powerhouse club to meet with Wallabies rising star Mark Nawaqanitawase next week in a potential move that will send shockwaves through the 15-man game.

With Joseph Suaalii preparing to leave the club at the end of 2024, the Roosters could be on the verge of exacting revenge in a potential raid on one of the Wallabies’ best players at a disappointing World Cup campaign in France.

Nawaqanitawase, who has drawn comparisons with a young Israel Folau, has caught the eye of the Roosters as they look to bolster their back line in preparation for Suaalii’s departure and Daniel Tupou’s likely retirement at the end of 2024.

Their attention comes as rugby is under the spotlight following a disastrous World Cup under now-departed coach Eddie Jones, as well as the massive $4.8 million, three-year deal for Suaalii, and a $1.6 million, two-year contract offered to fellow Roosters player Angus Crichton in a previously botched negotiation.

Nawaqanitawase, who is off contract with the NSW Waratahs at the end of 2024, is scheduled to meet with Roosters coach Trent Robinson and club supremo Nick Politis next week.

The Roosters are keen to explore the possibility of luring the 23-year-old back to rugby league after he played the 13-man game as a junior for both the Concord Burwood Wolves and Leichhardt Wanderers until the age of 14.

His father Sevuloni was a rugby league player, who moved from Fiji to Sydney in 1991 to play for Balmain. As a Year 10 student, Nawaqanitawase also played rugby with future Wests Tigers five-eighth Adam Doueihi in the first XV for St Patrick’s College, Strathfield.

The Roosters declined to comment when contacted by this masthead on Friday afternoon. Nawaqanitawase’s management also declined to comment. Rugby Australia chairman Hamish McLennan could not be reached.

Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh was unaware of the meeting with the Roosters when contacted on Friday but said the 15-man game was very keen to retain the flying winger.

“A player like Mark is one of the key personnel to the future of the game in Australia,” Waugh said.

There is the British and Irish Lions tour in 2025 and the home World Cup in 2027 and that’s an exciting runway of events coming up. It’s an amazing opportunity for all players to be involved in such historical sporting events in Australia.

“Mark is in the early days of his rugby career in Australia, and it’s important for us to give him the right direction and the best possible opportunity to succeed in the environment we provide. That’s our responsibility and we are working hard on that right now.”

In an interview with this masthead in May, Nawaqanitawase said he wanted a long-term deal with RA but the code was not willing to extend his deal beyond 2024. That decision may now come back to bite them.

“I would have liked more; I’d love to stay here as long as I can,” Nawaqanitawase said at the time. “With certain circumstances, we had to agree on something. The one-year [deal] was the best thing at the time.

“In a perfect world I’d like to stay [in rugby], but there’s always a but. There’s obviously other things out there that might interest me.”

The 23-year-old made his Wallabies debut against Italy last year in Florence. He is regarded as one of the code’s brightest young talents, but Rugby Australia may find it difficult to keep him, Suaalii and Max Jorgensen, another Roosters target, at the Waratahs.

Losing Nawaqanitawase to rugby league would be a huge blow for the Waratahs and Australian rugby, with the massive British and Irish Lions tour in Australia coming up in 2025 and with the Rugby World Cup on home soil in 2027.

As a youngster, Nawaqanitawase was overlooked for all junior representative teams but still landed at the Waratahs academy. He later went on to play for the successful Junior Wallabies side in 2019. He debuted for the Waratahs in 2020 and has played 47 Super Rugby games since.

Nawaqanitiwase earned his first cap for the Wallabies last year on the spring tour and scored a crucial double against Wales in just his third game.

In 2023, his rapid rise continued, and during Eddie Jones’ short tenure, he quickly emerged as one of the Wallabies’ primary attacking threats, both with the ball in hand and in the air.

With a similar body shape and athleticism, particularly in the air, Nawaqanatiwase was likened early on to former Waratahs and Wallabies fullback Folau.

A confident player, Nawaqanatiwase says he embraced the tag, rather than let it burden him.“Izzy Folau was awesome to watch and I feel like I can do some of the things he did,” Nawaqanitawase said last year.

“He made the game enjoyable to watch and I kind of want to do the same thing. I reckon I can open up the game a bit for the boys.”

[King Salvo]

If you're playing international rugby, you're seeing a fair amount of the world, and you can make pretty decent money playing club rugby in Europe and even on the 7's circuit.

It doesn't make a lot of sense for rugby players to switch to league, whereas you can see why league players would be tempted to switch to the union.

[FlamingRooster]

I doubt there is any substance to this rumour, but as someone who watches both codes this is my opinions on 'Marky Mark'. Australia's best winger this last year, better than Marika Koroibete, he's a big body with a good amount of muscle who actually plays like a Leaguie playing Union. Very strong in the air and good ball skills. Can be prone to a couple silly errors however a strong finisher. Strong tackler when facing player head on but can be a shirt puller if they get to his outside shoulder. One of few players in the Wallabies setups that I personally think could be good in League, alongside players like Kerevi and Valentini.

[Bates]

How many outside backs on big money do we need?

[Waylander]

I doubt there is any substance to this rumour, but as someone who watches both codes this is my opinions on 'Marky Mark'. Australia's best winger this last year, better than Marika Koroibete, he's a big body with a good amount of muscle who actually plays like a Leaguie playing Union. Very strong in the air and good ball skills. Can be prone to a couple silly errors however a strong finisher. Strong tackler when facing player head on but can be a shirt puller if they get to his outside shoulder. One of few players in the Wallabies setups that I personally think could be good in League, alongside players like Kerevi and Valentini.

I also watch both codes & this assessment is pretty spot on. Mark N is a good, physical player who would not be out of place in the NRL. He does need a little polish though.

[Chook2]

If true this is big
6.4” and over 100kg. Very good at breaking tackles and goes lookkkg for the ball
abit unorthodox type of player but can see it occurring especially if spots and money free up with suaali headimg off and potentially tupou retiring
the chooks line the 6.3” plus and 100kg outside backs

[Kentucky_Fried_Rooster]

I don't see it happening, there is more money in union with more chance of making contacts to keep money rolling in after hanging up your boots.

[Thirteen]

If you're playing international rugby, you're seeing a fair amount of the world, and you can make pretty decent money playing club rugby in Europe and even on the 7's circuit.

It doesn't make a lot of sense for rugby players to switch to league, whereas you can see why league players would be tempted to switch to the union.

Maybe he’s just sick of playing a rubbish game and wants to play real footy.

[Thirteen]

I don't see it happening, there is more money in union with more chance of making contacts to keep money rolling in after hanging up your boots.

Then why aren’t all the league players going over?

[milanja]

If you're playing international rugby, you're seeing a fair amount of the world, and you can make pretty decent money playing club rugby in Europe and even on the 7's circuit.

It doesn't make a lot of sense for rugby players to switch to league, whereas you can see why league players would be tempted to switch to the union.

You can see the world playing darts or lawn bowls too.
How many league players have we actually lost to union that have gone on to better things?

the bonus about playing rugby over league, is that nobody know who you are as a union player, so you can live normal life without being harassed as a celebrity.