Roosters utility back Mark Nawaqanitawase has earned high praise from fellow Tricolours product and current Wallabies star Joseph Suaalii, who believes the rugby union convert is destined to join the elite ranks of dual internationals.
Since making the leap from rugby union to the NRL at the end of the 2024 season, Nawaqanitawase has hit the ground running – wowing fans and critics alike with his electrifying attacking style.
The 24-year-old has quickly become one of the Sydney Roosters’ most lethal strike weapons, notching up 13 tries and 14 line breaks in just 14 games.
Among his standout moments is a jaw-dropping solo try against the Bulldogs – now in contention for ‘Try of the Year’ – and he’s widely tipped to take out the 2025 Dally M Rookie of the Year Award.
MORE: Could Roosters veteran make NRL history?
Already a seasoned rugby union international with 11 Wallabies appearances between 2022 and 2023, Nawaqanitawase is now on the cusp of joining the elite ranks of dual-code stars, with eligibility to represent both Australia and Fiji in rugby league.
Reports also suggest that he narrowly missed selection for Fiji’s squad in the 2024 Pacific Championships against the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea.
Although their time together at the Roosters was brief, Wallabies star and fellow rugby union convert Joseph Suaalii has thrown his support behind “Marky Mark” to succeed on the international rugby league stage.
"Yeah, one hundred per cent. I feel like whatever he wants to do in his life, he can do it," Suaalii told AAP.
"You can see his athletic ability, his natural instinct, the way he can offload and run the ball.
"There's all these different things he can do on a league and rugby field, so the sky's the limit for Marky Mark.”
Reflecting on their time playing together, Suaalii praised Nawaqanitawase’s quick adaptation to the new code.
"I had the pleasure of playing one game with him (at the Roosters in 2024) and he's picking up the game so quickly,” he said.
"I think the greatest thing he has is he wants to learn and he's a quick learner too. Honestly, it looks seamless the way he's doing it.”