Mark Nawaqanitawase set to leave Roosters for rugby return

[fletch]

This was always going to be the case once his attacking talents were on full display at the Roosters we were never going to be able to compete financially with the money he was going to earn in Rugby Union.

[The Lip]

Very disappointed, but not surprised. I’ve loved watching him this season, it’s been a real highlight of our season.

I wonder if they will now leave him out of the Kangaroos squad given he has committed his immediate future to Rugby.

I reckon you are probably right - won’t get selected now I don’t think for Kangaroos

[Horry]

FRom DT



Mark Nawaqanitawase is to quit the Sydney Roosters - but it’s only a temporary move.

The competition’s leading tryscorer is returning to rugby union but the Roosters are confident he will return to the NRL after the 2027 World Cup.

Nawaqanitawase has no interest in playing rugby union in Australia for a Super Rugby franchise.

Nawaqanitawase’s manager Milan Volavola-Shankar has been chasing opportunities in France where the tax rate is far more friendly to footballers.

Nawaqanitawase will pick up close to $1million by playing rugby in Europe whereas the most the Roosters were only prepared to offer was around the $700,000 mark.

The Rugby World Cup though was the major attraction for Nawaqanitawase who scored 25 tries for the Roosters this season.

One Roosters official told this masthead: “We were given an indication weeks ago that Mark wanted to go back to rugby union and we respected his wishes. However we are extremely confident he will return to the Roosters after the Rugby World Cup.”

Nawaqanitawase will play out the final year of his contract with the Roosters in 2026.

NRL Peter V’landys says Nawaqanitawase’s decision will have no effect on his chances of being selected in the Kangaroos side for the upcoming tour of England.

The Roosters winger looks a certainty to be chosen when Australian selectors sit down on the day after the grand final to name the 22-man squad for the three-Test series against England.

Nawaqanitawase is expected to be picked in Australia’s squad for the end-of-year Ashes series and become a dual international.

The Roosters are far more comfortable with Nawaqanitawase’s decision than they were with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii’s call to leave the club after he back-doored the Roosters last year.

The difference is Nawaqanitawase’s agent has been upfront with Roosters chairman Nick Politis throughout the negotiation process.

[Paddo Colt 61]

I can see either he or Suaalii returning at some point.

I can't. Rugby is enormous worldwide. There are scores of Rugby magazines and other media and endless opportunities for big money sponsorship. Plus the social environment and the job opportunities post career.
I'd imagine that you'd could get very used to cocktails every weekend at some French chateau with the Rugby besotted Compte. Better than a night at Mounties and a late night stink among the boys.

Rugby League is a minor player though you'd think it would better a better fit with modern short concentration taste. Might be if it had more exposure which is the hope behind Vegas. RL's rules, over time, have evolved to maximise entertainment. It's like Rugby on 'roids. The truth is that Rugby is an Establishment game and that ensures its future. The Vichy government in France (the old Aristocracy) banned Rugby League in France. The French side that dazzled us here in 1954, many of whom would have been banned 10 years earlier, showed what might have been.

[Roosterfarian]

The wallabies are a disaster-class atm. Who would really want to play for them when they have a chance to make it big in RL? It's not as if they will go far in the World Cup in any case based on current form.

[Michael Jones]

It was on the cards of course with the Rugby World Cup in Australia in 2027 ( 1 October to 13 November 2027.) but the thing that doesn't make sense is playing his Rugby Overseas - sure the money will be greater than playing for one of the super rugby sides but the old out of site out of mind springs to mind.

No mention that he has signed any Rugby Australia Contract such as Joseph Sua'ali'i did (2025 to 2027) with a 2 year player option ( 2028/2029)

Will it be for only 1 year (2027) when as mentioned in the article above he could earn up to 1 Million playing club Rugby in Europe (France) with generous tax breaks.

Daniel Tupou may get another extension after 2026?

[Chook2]

Not surprising at all after we signed his contract until 2026 the writing was on the wall for him to be back at rugby for the home World Cup
why not it only happens every 20 odd years and third biggest sporting event behind football World Cup and olympics
and over 1 billion people watching it is the best part of rugby

those who thought this was a silly suggestion and wasn’t going to happen? Well there is is

he is a chance to come back which he wouldn’t go to anyone else but the money to go would be to big making $1m a year in France or Japan

tough though now loosing rts, Manu, suaali, Latrell to bunnies and now Marky M
it starts again to replace him

[bondi.boy]

Hugggge loss for not only Roosters but Rubly league as a whole.
I have seen a few comments on pages laughing at Roosters that we have lost him but these people need to realise this is a big loss to Rugby league.
He is a marketing goldmine and at the top of all the highlight reels.

He can't tackle, lets tries in down his wing.
We need a proper League winger who wants to play for our club and be coached by Trent.

[Swamptrout]

Can't help but feel a bit used up. Bring him in, get him firing and on the radar with the wallabies when he was languishing in nothingness and couldn't get in to the team.

[bondi.boy]

Not surprising at all after we signed his contract until 2026 the writing was on the wall for him to be back at rugby for the home World Cup
why not it only happens every 20 odd years and third biggest sporting event behind football World Cup and olympics
and over 1 billion people watching it is the best part of rugby

those who thought this was a silly suggestion and wasn’t going to happen? Well there is is

he is a chance to come back which he wouldn’t go to anyone else but the money to go would be to big making $1m a year in France or Japan

tough though now loosing rts, Manu, suaali, Latrell to bunnies and now Marky M
it starts again to replace him

At least Manu stayed for 10 years or so.
RTS was here for a while and won a premiership.
Good Latrell went to Souths when he did.

[HunchoRooster]

I’m shocked by the amount of people surprised by this. The moment he signed for 2 years you knew it lined up perfectly with the World Cup on the horizon in 2027. He’s a special talent and athlete and we need to make best use of him before he leaves end of next year.

Circle of life. We haven’t been “used” and he owes us nothing but his best effort and performances in season 2026. Let’s hope we can send him out a winner and hopefully he might return after 2028 because a home World Cup would be one of the few pulls that Union has as a code.

[HunchoRooster]

The wallabies are a disaster-class atm. Who would really want to play for them when they have a chance to make it big in RL? It's not as if they will go far in the World Cup in any case based on current form.

Not really. Maybe the code in general is struggling in Aus but the Wallabies have drastically improved since relaxing the eligibility laws. Very competitive series against the Lions and a 50-50 call away from winning the series. Then we recently beat SA away from home. Huge outsiders to go deep in a home World Cup but you never know.

[Michael Jones]

Going to be interesting going forward recruitment wise as both Tedesco and Toops contracts expire in 2026 - Tedesco is apparently in negotiations for a 1 year extension for 2027?

May need to replace both starting wingers for 2027?

I assume the Roosters will set money aside for him to return in 2028 as they did for Joey Manu although they would be resigned to the fact now that Manu isn't coming back and it could well be the same for Mark Nawaqanitawase?

Not sure how this affects his chances for selection in the Kangaroos squad for the 3 test series vs England as there is a Rugby League World Cup in 2026 - October to November

[bondi.boy]

What on earth is wrong with you?

He's reportedly the leading error maker in the NRL.

[bondi.boy]

Going to be interesting going forward recruitment wise as both Tedesco and Toops contracts expire in 2026 - Tedesco is apparently in negotiations for a 1 year extension for 2027?

May need to replace both starting wingers for 2027?

I assume the Roosters will set money aside for him to return in 2028 as they did for Joey Manu although they would be resigned to the fact now that Manu isn't coming back and it could well be the same for Mark Nawaqanitawase?

Not sure how this affects his chances for selection in the Kangaroos squad for the 3 test series vs England as there is a Rugby League World Cup in 2026 - October to November

If he doesn't come back, what a big waste of time and money.