Roosters coach Trent Robinson hopes to have Mark Nawaqanitawase at the club by the end of the month, with the Wallabies star expected to feature in Australia’s Olympics squad before being granted an early release to switch codes.
Nawaqanitawase signed a two-year deal last December to join the Roosters in 2025, but after being left out of the Wallabies squad for this month’s Tests, there has been a push for him to speed up the process so he can spend some time in rugby league this season.
Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
The Roosters have had to deal with injuries and suspensions to some high-profile outside backs, with Joseph Manu joining the long list with a broken hand suffered during Sunday’s big win over the Wests Tigers.
Robinson confirmed after the game that they were on track to sign Nawaqanitawase for the rest of the season by Monday’s deadline, although he wouldn’t be available until late July when the sevens program in Paris wraps up.
Should that all get finalised, Robinson insists his star recruit would need plenty of time to get used to the new sport, with Nawaqanitawase likely to spend time in NSW Cup where the Roosters are currently second last.
“We’re hopeful of getting that through, but it’s more to have the ability to get him going,” he said.
“I haven’t got an NRL focus for him. I’ve got a transition into rugby league focus and getting him training, if possible, and playing some reserve grade would be ideal. And then it’s up to him with how he adapts.
“The focus is definitely not NRL. There’s not a view on NRL any time soon.
“We’ve got a spot available to do that, but we want to get his feet on the ground to get his understanding (of rugby league).
“That’ll give him a really good view for the pre-season about ‘when I did this or that, I should have moved here’.
“That would really help us adapt through the pre-season with him. That would be the goal.”