Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase signs with Sydney Roosters on two-year deal

The Roosters have pulled off the ultimate poaching raid on Rugby Australia by securing a like-for-like replacement for rugby-bound Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.

The Roosters have gained revenge on Rugby Australia for poaching Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii by signing star Wallabies winger Mark Nawaqanitawase on a shock two-year deal.

Confirmation of the deal could come as early as Thursday after the contract was signed Wednesday night, and 23-year-old Nawaqanitawase will join the Bondi club for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

That allows him to return to union for the 2027 World Cup to be hosted by Australia.

It is a major blow for the struggling rugby code in Australia, as Nawaqanitawase was one of the Wallabies best players at this year’s World Cup and will have featured heavily in the marketing for the 2025 British & Irish Lions series to be held here.

But the Roosters have pounced as RA is struggling for stability, with Wallabies coach Eddie Jones recently resigning, chairman Hamish McLennan rolled in a major coup, and a private equity deal falling through which forced RA to take out an $80 million loan.

There remains uncertainty about who will be RA’s new high performance director, an all-powerful position with the remit to appoint the new Wallabies coach. That is not expected to be determined until next year.

“We are disappointed – Mark has been a strong player over the last 12 months. However, the outside backs are a position of strength for us, with great depth coming through,” said Rugby Australia CEO Phil Waugh.

“We are confident we are well-stocked with talented wingers for the future.”

Mark Nawaqanitawase (R) is set to join the Roosters on a two-year deal. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Suaalii and Nawaqanitawase will cross codes and clubs at the same time, essentially a direct swap. Suaalii will join the NSW Waratahs, who will lose Nawaqanitawase to the Roosters.

Suaalii is set to be taken on the 2024 end of year Wallabies tour to fast-track his development, and he would essentially be filling the position vacated by Nawaqanitawase.

This would be the first major poaching of a union player to league since NRL boss Andrew Abdo admitted the code was looking at salary cap dispensation for clubs who could sign Wallabies, as they fire back at the 15-man code for continually targeting their players.

Sources suggested that while the dispensation has not been ratified yet, the Roosters may be able to retrospectively recoup some of the money being offered to Nawaqanitawase when the NRL formally introduces the bill.

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii is rugby-bound in 2025. Picture: NRL Imagery

Nawaqanitawase has been compared to some of the great cross-code converts including Israel Folau and Lote Tuqiri for his strong ball-carrying ability, and masterful aerial skills.

He was a shining light in a drab Wallabies team that was eliminated in the pool stages of the World Cup.

He and prop Angus Bell were Australia’s two best performers this year by some distance.

Nawaqanitawase, born in Burwood, played rugby league until he was 14.

He made his Super Rugby debut for NSW in 2020, debuted for the Wallabies last year and has played 11 Tests.

While there have been plenty of league players who’ve made the switch to union over the past three decades, Nawaqanitawase is the biggest signing of a Wallabies player by an NRL club in the professional era.

Kiwi NRL stars Benji Marshall and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck did swap from league to union with middling success, and both decided to return to the NRL.

The Waratahs will have one NRL name on their roster next year. They’ve signed 24-year-old Triston Reilly, who was released by Wests Tigers after playing just three games last season.

Reilly began his career at the Waratahs from 2020-22 before trying his hand at league.

Originally published as Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase signs with Sydney Roosters on two-year deal