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Watch: Ex-Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase compared to Folau after NRL debut try

Mark Nawaqanitawase of the Roosters collects the ball to score a try during the round 27 NRL match between South Sydney Rabbitohs and Sydney Roosters at Accor Stadium, on September 06, 2024, in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

Former Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase has drawn comparisons to fellow code-hopper Israel Folau after scoring an incredible try on his NRL debut. It didn’t take long for Nawaqanitawase to make NRL headlines, with the winger producing an effort that must be seen to be believed.

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After playing for the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby Pacific and then the Australian men’s sevens side at the Paris Olympic Games, Nawaqaniatwase’s dream-like year continued with the Roosters confirming earlier this week that their new recruit was set to debut.

With an injury crisis making its way through the Tricolour’s squad, coach Trent Robinson called on Nawaqanitawase to start on the right wing in round 27. Nawaqanitawase would wear No. 20 in the Roosters’ grudge match against fierce rivals the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

In the Roosters’ final regular season game, Nawaqaniatwase only needed six and a half minutes to remind rugby fans of what they’re missing. Five-eighth Luke Keary sent the ball Nawaqanitawase’s way and the Olympian certainly made the most of the opportunity.

 

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Nawaqaniatwase, 23, rose to the heavens with an athletic leap above Rabbitohs winger Tyrone Munro before crashing back down to Earth for the four-point score. The debutant was immediately swarmed by Roosters teammates, including rugby-bound Joeseph Manu.

“Oh my goodness, well hello Mark Nawaqanitawase, get used to the name,” commentator Dan Ginnane said on Fox League.

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“Has anyone scored a debut try quite like that… that is an astonishing bit of athleticism.

“One of the most incredible stories, to go from the Olympics to the NRL finals, and he looks the real deal.”

Nawaqaniatwase had already shown signs of promise after making the switch to rugby league. On debut for the Roosters in the NSW Cup a few weeks ago, the flyer scored a try on debut in a thrilling 23-22 win over the Bulldogs.

In that match, Nawaqaniatwase ran the ball for more than 150 metres, had two line breaks, seven tackle busts, and 57 post-contact metres. There was a lot to like, and further honours could be on the horizon with reports already linking Nawaqaniatwase with the Fiji national team.

With Nawaqaniatwase producing athletic feats of brilliance like the one in the NRL, it’s not hard to see why ‘the Bati’ (Fiji) would want him in their squad for the Pacific Championships after the NRL season.

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“Look at the crowd, they are going absolutely berserk,” 2016 NRL Premiership winner Mick Ennis added about Nawaqaniatwase’s try of the Roosters.

“Nawaqanitawase, the fans are in. That is Israel Folau-like that, just the way he rises up above.

“(Playmaker Luke) Keary puts it on an absolute dime and he climbs well into the air over the top of Myrone Munro.

“The (athleticism) Nawaqanitawase got there, what a moment, what an absolute debut try.”

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Comments

6 Comments
O
OJohn 311 days ago

What a shame that he couldn't be bothered playing for a kiwi coach of the Wallabies who lives in NZ ......

N
NHinSH 311 days ago

The guy who had signed a contract with NRL before the Kiwi had joined?

Think you'll find that was down to the shitshow of Australia Rugby and EJs insistence on ruffling NRLs feathers

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JW 32 minutes ago
Beauden Barrett weighs in on controversial yellow card

It’s an interesting question because a normal diberate knock on is just a penalty offense, an normal infringement like any other, so that’s deemed where the was not a reasonable chance to catch the ball.


But it’s a ruling that can also be upgraded to a foul, and by association, a yellow card, when it’s it was also deliberately trying to deny the ball to another player. For instance, that is why they are just given penalties up the field, because the player has just made a bad decision (one where he had no reasonable chance) and he doesn’t really care if the pass had gone to hand for his opponents or not (he was just thinking about being a hero etc).


So the way the refs have been asked to apply the law is to basically just determine whether there was an overlap (and not to try and guess what the player was actually thinking) or not, as to whether it’s a penalty or a YC.


This is the part Barrett doesn’t like, he’s essentially saying “but I had no idea whether they were likely to score or not (whether there was an unmarked man), so how can you tell me I was deliberately trying to prevent it going to someone, it could have been a blind pass to no one”.


It’s WR trying to make it clear cut for fans and refs, if at the players expense.

But yes, also you must think it entirely possible given both were foul plays that they could both go to the bench. Much the same as we see regularly when even though the play scores a try, they have started sending the player off still.


And while I agree Narawa didn’t knock it on, I think the ball did go forward, just off the shoulder. As his hands were up in the air, above the ball, basically like a basketball hope over his right shoulder, I guess you’re right in that if it did make contact with his hands it would have had to be deflected backwards onto his shoulder etc. Looking at the replay, Le Garrec clearly lost control of the ball forward too, but because Barrett was deemed to have committed a deliberate act, that overrides the knockon from 9.


I just don’t understand how they can consider it a deliberate attempt to block a pass when he actually lost the ball forward!

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