Wallabies star set for rugby league debut following shock code switch
Mark Nawaqanitawase in action for the Wallabies at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Former Wallabies and Olympic Sevens star Mark Nawaqanitawase is set to make his professional rugby league debut this weekend in the NSW Cup.
The 23-year-old has been named in the Sydney Roosters Reserves side to face the Bulldogs on Sunday, starting on the wing.
Nawaqanitawase agreed a deal with the Roosters in December, and following the conclusion of his Olympic duties with Australia has now begun training with his new side.
Lofty aspirations
Nawaqanitawase leaves behind a promising career in the 15-man-game to pursue a shot at the NRL with the Roosters.
He burst onto the scene with the Waratahs, making his Super Rugby debut at just 19-years-old. After some decent showings in his early professional career, he earned a call-up to the Australia A squad, and later went on to make his full Wallabies debut against Italy in 2022.
The Sydney-native progressed to win 11 caps for his country, and also featured in the 2023 World Cup in France. After agreeing terms with the Roosters, he still featured for the Waratahs this Super Rugby Pacific season, and also represented the Australian Sevens team at the Olympics.
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This already stellar career gives him lofty expectations in the NRL, but he also said he has some ‘learning’ still to do.
“At the end of the day I’ve crossed over to play NRL,” he told reporters. “Obviously it would be nice if the opportunity came this season, but I’ve got some learning to do first so I can give the coaches confidence to pick me.”
Culture of success
The Roosters are having a stellar season in the NRL. They sit third in the ladder heading into the final few rounds and look on course to make the finals again.
As the team seek their first Premiership since 2019, Nawaqanitawase already has an understanding of the culture of success at the club.
“I can see why they have been such a successful club,” he said. “Also the culture they have there. I’ve seen it everywhere I’ve been and some of the players they have there – special mention to Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, I can see why they love him.”
He added: “The standards that they build, the energy that he brings, and it’s not just him it’s all the players. They have been so welcoming and at the same time they work so hard to get better. You just feed off it and it’s good to be a part of.”
Following Carter Gordon into reserve grade competition
Nawaqanitawase becomes the second Wallaby to feature in the Australian rugby league reserve grade competitions in recent weeks, with former team-mate Carter Gordon also featuring in the QLD Cup debut, as he too makes the move to the NRL with the Gold Coast Titans.
Gordon made an immediate impact upon his rugby league debut, notching a try, an assist and an impressive 137 metres ball-in-hand. He has since made two more appearances and scored a further two tries.
If Nawaqanitawase can reach these stats, he will certainly be pleased with his own rugby league debut.