By Dan Walsh
Mark Nawaqanitawase took just six minutes and a couple of touches to convince the rugby league world that he can thrive, not just survive, in it.
The former Wallabies star turned prized Roosters recruit hopes his stunning aerial debut was enough to convince his mum too.
Fiona Tovehi led the wrangling of what Nawaqanitawase estimates was a 100-strong cohort of family and friends at Accor Stadium for his NRL debut, which doubled as just his fourth game of rugby league since he was 15.
A dozen of them were shirtless by the sixth minute, spelling out “Nawaqanitawase” in body paint and swinging from the rafters when he flew over the top of South Sydney’s Tyrone Munro for a Luke Keary crossfield kick.
Nawaqanitawase’s third touch of a Steeden in first grade produced a spectacular leaping try, instant Kodak memory and early vindication for the first incumbent Wallaby to switch codes since Garrick Morgan almost 30 years ago.
Not least for mum Tovehi, who had her doubts about Nawaqanitawase’s Roosters move given the NRL’s physicality is unmatched and he could have earned significantly more staying in rugby.
Mark Nawaqanitawase embraces his mum Fiona Tovehi after his NRL debut.Credit: NRL Imagery
“She wasn’t very keen on me playing league,” Nawaqanitawase grinned after the Roosters’ 36-28 defeat of the Rabbitohs.
“Mums are mums and I’m her baby so she doesn’t want to see her kids get hurt or bashed up. I guess that’s every mum.
“She didn’t like the thought of me getting into a brutal game so she’s still trying to get used to it. Hopefully that game ticks one box and it can slowly build whenever I get another opportunity.”
That opportunity is in all likelihood next coming in 2025, given coach Trent Robinson expects first-choice wingers Daniel Tupou and Dominic Young back for week one of the finals, and won’t be jettisoning either for Nawaqanitawase.
Mark Nawaqanitawase needed only seven minutes to score his first NRL try.Credit: Getty Images
The 23-year-old’s late call-up caps an incredible 12 months that has included a Rugby World Cup, tense contract negotiations and a Sevens outings at last month’s Olympics in Paris.
Nawaqanitawase could have pursued a reported seven-figure a season offer in Japanese rugby, or extended with Rugby Australia ahead of the once in a career British and Irish Lions tour next season.
Instead, he will earn around $500,000-a-year on his current Roosters contract with both Robinson and skipper James Tedesco rapt with Nawaqanitawase’s impressive transition to the game.
As impressive as his first aerial display in attack was, Nawaqanitawase’s follow-up in defence a few minutes later was just as valuable.
The Nawaqanitawase fan club.Credit: NRL Imagery
Cody Walker launched a probing kick his way, and Nawaqanitawase batted the ball up one-handed, regathered and offloaded to send Tedesco racing up-field.
South Sydney made a point of testing the new winger out. Nawaqanitawase handled everything they threw at him and threw it back with gusto in his first-play carries.
Turns out those moments under the high ball also helped attract the 192cm flyer back to the game he last played for Leichhardt Wanderers in the Balmain juniors.
“It’s one of the parts of the game that I was very interested in with the fifth and sixth tackles and the number of kicks that would come from that play,” he said.
“Using my aerial skills is something I thought I could bring to the game … I was very fortunate that our team was moving up to the try line and it just happened that the kick was the right option. I just threw myself to it and gave it all I had.”
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