Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has lauded the skills of his former Roosters teammate Mark Nawaqanitawase and said he hopes the flyer will rejoin the Wallabies as early as next month on the spring tour.
However, that prospect remains up in the air. Wallabies coach Les Kiss and Nawaqanitawase are yet to discuss plans, and talks are also ongoing between Rugby Australia and the winger’s new Japanese club, Panasonic Saitama Wild Knights.
Nawaqanitawase is contracted with the Roosters until the end of the month but switches back to rugby next month on a two-season, $3 million deal with Panasonic. The return was also driven by Nawaqanitawase’s desire to play at the Rugby World Cup next year in Australia.
Nawaqanitawase played 11 Tests for the Wallabies in 2022-23, including the last World Cup in France.
He is also eligible to play for Fiji and Italy and could theoretically make a switch in mid-2027. But the big winger has made it known he wants to play for the Wallabies at a World Cup on home soil, according to informed sources not authorised to comment publicly.
Kiss is a big fan of Nawaqanitawase, but the 26-year-old is not contracted to Rugby Australia, so would have to be picked for the Wallabies as an overseas player, and only during World Rugby’s mandated player release windows.
November is one of those windows but Nawaqanitawase has previously indicated he is looking to use the month to move to Japan, and get up to speed with his new club before the opening round of League One in Japan on December 12.
Kiss revealed last week he planned to talk soon with Nawaqanitawase about his Wallabies’ ambitions, and informed sources said that conversation was due to take place on Tuesday night.
Clubs, in theory, have to release players for national duties under World Rugby’s regulation 9 or face penalties. But, in reality, there is often a complicated dance between club, player and national union, with players juggling the desire to play for their country with wanting to show respect and commitment to their employer.
While Panasonic will be without other Test players in November, like Damian De Allende (South Africa), Jack Cornelsen (Japan) and Lood de Jager (South Africa), one informed source with knowledge of Japanese rugby said it’s likely the Wild Knights would want to onboard a marquee recruit like Nawaqanitawase at the earliest opportunity.
That scenario could still leave a door open for Nawaqanitawase to join the Wallabies on their spring tour later in November, however.
Before his switch to rugby in 2024 (where he played for the Wallabies weeks after finishing in the NRL), Suaalii played with Nawaqanitawase in one NRL game for the Roosters. He welcomed the dual international winger, and Roosters veteran Angus Crichton, joining the rugby ranks next year.
“He (Nawaqanitawase) was great. Not many people have done what he’s done in the game for two years,” Suaalii said.
“Watching from afar, he did things that not many people can do in the game. It’s a credit to him and him as a person and the club as well. They’re a great club, the Sydney Roosters. They know how to make great players.
“It’ll be great to add his skill set over here in the Wallabies, and Angus here in the Waratahs and Wallabies as well.”
Crichton was being considered for selection on both the Australia A tour of the US later this month, and the spring trip. But the Kangaroo forward was ruled out with a lingering foot injury and will do the Waratahs’ pre-season instead.
Asked if he would like to see Nawaqanitawase on the end of year tour, Suaalii said: “I’m not the coaching staff, so I’m not sure what’s going to happen.
“I feel like he’d want to come on a spring tour. But like I said, Les is the man that makes the call, so we’ll see what happens. You want your best players here. We brought Jordie (Petaia) over from Japan. He’s been a great addition for us as a group.
“You want your best players training, playing. We’re one year to a World Cup now, so each game is very important.”
Suaalii, who has been picked on the wing for the last two Tests, said he welcomed the competition of “Marky Mark” being back in rugby.
The Wallabies star is set to return to the centres to meet the All Blacks in Sydney on Saturday, but winger Harry Potter said a review of the 50-19 loss at Eden Park at the weekend had highlighted the importance of and securing more possession from contestable kicks.
“We’ve had a good hard look at the kick battle ... that’s a massive area of the game,” he said.
“A lot of ball that was loose, and they managed to pick up a lot of loose ball. And they’re a good counter-attacking team. Something that we’d like to be able to also launch off as well. And we probably didn’t get those opportunities.
“That’s certainly something we’re going to review hard ... and rectify it this week.”