Mark Nawaqanitawase didn’t know it at the time, but his Olympic Sevens campaign doubled as a farewell not only to rugby union, but also to one of the most important people in his life.
The Roosters recruit made his first appearance at Bondi Junction last weekend, just weeks after completing his rugby commitments at the Paris Olympics. He would have arrived a week earlier if not for the death of his stepfather, Aisake Tovehi, a man Nawaqanitawase describes through tears as “practically my dad”.
The excitement of an Olympics appearance and subsequent code switch – which could yet result in an NRL debut this season should injuries or suspensions bite deep into the Roosters squad – has been tempered by the tragedy.
“It’s been tough at the moment,” Nawaqanitawase told this masthead.
“To not have him here is pretty big. I’m sorry, I didn’t realise I’d get this [emotional]. He’s a big part of my journey with union, he loved union. [He followed] every game that I played. It’s going to be a big difference for me going forward without him.
“I guess that’s life. I will definitely be doing it for him, a lot of it. He’s in a better place now. That’s where I’m at at the moment. I’ll be doing a lot of it for him.”
Mark Nawaqanitawase with his mother, Fiona Tovehi, stepfather, Aisake Tovehi, and relative Malakai.Credit: Wolter Peeters
Tovehi, who had been battling cancer, died just shy of his 55th birthday. He was well enough to head to France to watch Nawaqanitawase represent the Wallabies in last year’s Rugby World Cup, but passed after his stepson returned to Paris to fulfil his Olympic dream.
“He’s gone now, but will always be there for me,” Nawaqanitawase said. “He’s one that I need to do proud, do a lot for. Gone a bit too soon. He’s in a better place now, he was in a bit of pain.
“Just when I got back from the World Cup [at the end of 2023] we found out he had cancer. He had a bit of a battle over the past few months and he was in recovery mode.
“He didn’t die from the sickness, the doctors knew something would happen away from the sickness. If something was to happen, it was going to be a certain event. It was a bit of a shock two weeks ago when this thing that could have happen happened.
“Unfortunately on the last day I was supposed to come back from the Olympics, it all went downhill.
“He couldn’t be brought back to life. It’s been a tough week or two, but it happens all over the world. I’ve got good family around me and obviously the Roosters have been great, there’s been good support there. The footy has actually been a good distraction for me.
“It’s been quite a crazy week-and-a-half, two weeks. There have been feelings of excitement and all that kind of jazz, to having to rush home and sort everything out with the family.
“I’m supposedly in a good mindset at the moment. I’m just getting used to the difference, the change.”
There’s another big change occurring in Nawaqanitawase’s life, on the field. The St Patrick’s College Strathfield graduate finished up his rugby commitments when Australia bowed out at the semi-finals stage of the sevens tournament at the hands of South Africa.
“What words can I use? I would say it was an unreal experience, an experience unlike any other,” he said. “It makes it so special and you realise how lucky you are to be able to do that. It’s a really special thing to do before [switching codes].
“I thought I did my job well. We had a great team and the boys did their jobs as best we could. For me, personally, I was grateful I even got on.
“Obviously we had high hopes to get a gold or get a medal, but our focus was to get better every day. I thought we did very well to get three from three at the start. To even get into a bronze medal match is a huge thing in itself.
“We didn’t get it, but I feel we can be happy with the performances we put out there. I think it’s the first time any Aussie [male] team has reached the semi-final of an event in rugby sevens.
Mark Nawaqanitawase runs the ball in the Olympic sevens semi-final against South Africa.Credit: Getty Images
“You can be proud for the part we have done and hopefully in the future the boys can go one step further.”
Roosters coach Trent Robinson has made it clear that he won’t be rushing Nawaqanitawase’s NRL debut. However, his early arrival will allow him the best chance to make a successful transition, one that could yet happen this season.
“At the end of the day I’ve crossed over to play NRL,” said Nawaqanitawase, who has been selected for the Roosters’ NSW Cup clash against the Bulldogs on Sunday. “Obviously it would be nice if the opportunity came [this season].
“I’ve got some learning to do first so I can give the coaches confidence to pick me. I’m in a good position at the moment to learn as much as I can.
‘There have been feelings of excitement and all that kind of jazz to having to rush home and sort everything out with the family.’
Mark Nawaqanitawase
“There’s no rush to get me out there straight away. I’m grateful I can take my time and see where I can get to.”
Asked for his initial impressions of the Roosters, Nawaqanitawase said: “The professionalism. I can see why they have been such a successful club. 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.
“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.”
Another former Wallaby, Carter Gordon, has also made the switch to league, with the Gold Coast Titans. Nawaqanitawase is looking forward to the moment when they first face off in the NRL.
“Definitely. Carter is a good man, I hear he’s doing quite well in the Queensland Cup,” Nawaqanitawase said. “If we came up against each other it would be pretty special, the two of us went to the World Cup together and have both switched now. It would be a funny, but special day for us.”
While Nawaqanitawase and Carter have switched to the 13-man game, Roosters stars Joseph Manu and Joseph Suaalii have gone the other way. Nawaqanitawase predicts the flow of talent between the codes will increase.
“I do,” he said. “There’s a bit of chat going around with a lot of players now. I saw a few reports over the past few weeks about some players wanting to make the switch. I think it will happen.
“Most of the boys these days are pretty athletic, and I believe they could make the switch. I wouldn’t be surprised if a few more people do decide to do it.”
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