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Superstar Nawaqanitawase makes huge career call
Darren Walton, AAP •  September 21st, 2026 4:16 pm
Mark Nawaqanitawase has enjoyed his time with the Roosters and plans to bow out in the grand final | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
An emotional Mark Nawaqanitawase has ruled out ever playing for any other NRL club than the Sydney Roosters as he eyes the ultimate farewell to rugby league.
Returning to rugby at season's end, Nawaqanitawase will remain among the hottest free agents in either code whenever he comes off contract as he routinely floats between the 13 and 15-man game.
But the dual international is adamant he will only ever consider donning the Tricolours after detailing how much of a wrench it is to be leaving the Roosters after a spectacular two-year stint in the NRL.
"If I was to ever come back, it'd only be for the Roosters," Nawaqanitawase, who is of Fijian and Italian heritage, said on Monday.
Mark Nawaqanitawase says he will play for the Sydney Roosters only if he does return to the NRL | Photo: Mark Evans/AAP
"It's been above and beyond what I thought it would go like, so I'm enjoying it every week and hopefully I can continue to enjoy it for the next two.
"It's been the best decision ever."
Whether it's scoring the most freakish of tries or setting them up, the superstar winger has proven a one-man highlights reel for the Roosters and almost choked up when talking about moving on.
"It's a bit sad sometimes, like just thinking about leaving everyone," he said.
"But I'm just trying to enjoy it while I can. I don't try to get too caught up in it. Obviously I definitely do reminisce on some of the good times and feel that, but for the most part just enjoy it every day I can."
Headed for the Saitama Wild Knights in Japan's League One competition, Nawaqanitawase also shut down talk of potentially playing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
The happily single 26-year-old will be living alone for the first time and says learning to adapt to domestic duties is a priority.
"I'm just having a bit of time off before I leave the country, spending time with my family, my friends and then having that respect just to start up a new club and find my feet there," Nawaqanitawase said.
"It'll be my first time living out of home, so I just get my head around cooking for myself, working out how things work around the house.
"I'm not that bad but I actually know nothing about just getting an idea of how it is to live by myself.
Mark Nawaqanitawase has been a human highlights reel at the Roosters | Photo: Dan Himbrechts/AAP
"So that's going to take a few weeks and if I'm good if I'm going in and out, it could disrupt things."
From Olympic Games and State of Origin to Tests for the Wallabies and Kangaroos, the code-hopping ace has already played on the grandest stages in league and union, but reckons featuring in an NRL grand final would match anything he's ever done.
"It'd be great, obviously," he said ahead of Friday night's preliminary final against the Dolphins in Brisbane.
"I'd say it'd have to be up there with one of those big events: a World Cup, Origin, so I want to do everything I can this week to get there."
