No more ‘Mark doing freaky things’ as Nawaqanitawase’s NRL farewell looms

Mark Nawaqanitawase is preparing to exit the National Rugby League as his stint with the Sydney Roosters nears its final chapter, bringing an abrupt halt to a short career defined by extraordinary athletic feats. According to reporting by Aol and The Guardian, the code-hopper will depart for Japanese rugby union as soon as his team's finals campaign concludes, starting with a crucial semi-final clash against Cronulla.

The winger's journey through rugby league has been marked by staggering productivity. Officials at the Roosters and Rugby Australia share adjacent offices next to Allianz Stadium, maintaining a remarkably amicable relationship despite repeatedly sharing or losing the player across a remarkable three-year period.

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That cross-code window included a Test for the Wallabies at the Rugby World Cup in October 2023, followed by a fourth-place finish with Australia's rugby sevens team at the Paris Olympics. Merely six weeks after returning from Paris, Nawaqanitawase crossed the try line on his NRL debut. Last year, he topped the NRL try-scoring charts and earned selection for the Kangaroos despite having already announced his intention to exit the code within a year. He subsequently added a State of Origin series victory with New South Wales to his resume, featuring a two-try performance on his Blues debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Roosters captain James Tedesco praised the competitor's attitude, highlighting the energy the team draws from his exceptional play.

"Ronaldo plays with a lot of fire and a lot of energy, the Sharks thrive off that, and Mark doing freaky things gives us energy as well."

James Tedesco, Roosters Captain, via Aol

This weekend's fixture against the Sharks will renew a fierce individual rivalry between Nawaqanitawase and Cronulla winger Ronaldo Mulitalo, harking back to a memorable round meeting where Nawaqanitawase sealed victory with a pair of late tries.

Statistical comparison reveals how the player evolved during his second full campaign in the discipline, shifting from pure predatory finishing to absorbing the heavy yardage demands required of a modern professional winger.

Metric	Previous Season	Current Season
Total Tries Scored	League Leader	16
Matches Played	—	20
Average Run Metres per Match	138 metres	168 metres

Upon the conclusion of his Roosters commitments, Nawaqanitawase will transition to the Saitama Wild Knights in Japan on a lucrative two-year deal reportedly exceeding one million dollars per season. The agreement strategically bookends the upcoming Rugby World Cup scheduled to take place in Australia. While dialogue continues with Rugby Australia regarding a potential future return to the national team, Berrick Barnes notes that the player will likely spend the initial months integrating with his new club ahead of the Japanese season kickoff rather than participating in the remaining Wallabies Tests.

Barnes believes the adaptation back to rugby union will require several months of adjustment, particularly regarding the breakdown and kicking duties, though he expects the transition to be smoother than for players coming from a pure league background. Saitama will offer a stark contrast to the intense public spotlight of Sydney, granting the athlete a period of relative anonymity outside of matchdays.

What happens next depends entirely on the scoreboard at Allianz Stadium. If the Roosters manage to overcome Cronulla, the farewell will be delayed by another week, keeping the explosive highlights rolling a little longer before the journey to Tokyo begins.