Off The Record podcast: Buzz and Webby reveal Sydney Roosters to open contract extension talks with Mark Nawaqanitawase
Just days after scoring one of the most remarkable tries in rugby league history, the Sydney Roosters are set to open negotiations with excitement machine Mark Nawaqanitawase.
The Sydney Roosters are set to open negotiations with excitement machine Mark Nawaqanitawase for a $2 million contract extension.
The former Wallaby and Olympic 7’s rugby star scored one of the greatest individual tries in rugby league history last weekend in a spectacular display of skill that attracted 70 million views on social media.
Now the Roosters want to shut down talk of Rugby Australia trying to poach him back for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Or run the risk of expansion club the Perth Bears having a crack.
News Corp journalists Phil Buzz Rothfield and Andrew Webster revealed on their Off The Record podcast that talks would soon begin between Nawaqanitawase’s manager and the Roosters.
Nawaqanitawase quit rugby union when the Wallabies and the Waratahs signed Joseph Suaalii from the Roosters on a $5 million three-year deal.
He signed at the Roosters until the end of 2026 on $500,000 a season.
Rothfield revealed Nawaqanitawase’s camp now wants to extend for an extra two years.
“The money would be around $700,000-a-season,” Rothfield said, “I think he’s already a better player than Suaalii and he’s only played about 10 NRL games.
“That try he scored against the Bulldogs was at an off-the-charts skill level.”
Rugby officials have come under scrutiny for not doing more to keep Nawaqanitawase in the sport.
One player manager revealed: “Marky Mark was one of a number of rugby players who were not happy about the Suaalii deal, which was more than three times what they were earning.”
# Listen to Off The Record with Buzz and Webby on Spotify, Apple podcasts, YouTube or wherever you listen to your podcasts.
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