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'Why not ask more of a kid who has a ceiling that I think is almost infinite'

By Finn Morton
CARDIFF, WALES - NOVEMBER 26: Mark Nawaqanitawase of Australia goes over to score their side's third try during the Autumn International match between Wales and Australia at Principality Stadium on November 26, 2022 in Cardiff, Wales. (Photo by Harry Trump/Getty Images)

Rising star Mark Nawaqanitawase has only played three Test matches in Wallaby gold, but the talented winger is already being touted as a superstar of tomorrow – he’s been that good.

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Nawaqanitawase’s rise to Wallaby gold is a story unlike any other, but it’s a testament to his brilliance on the field and his determination and passion off it.

While the 22-year-old wasn’t initially part of the Waratahs Super Rugby squad for this season, he went on to make his Test debut before the end of the year.

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Australia has some truly talented outside backs including Suliasi Vunivalu, Andrew Kellaway and Jordan Petaia, but Nawaqanitawase has quickly emerged as Dave Rennie’s best options out wide.

Nawaqanitawase was one of the Wallabies’ best players during his international debut a few weeks ago against Italy, and he carried that form into his next two Test matches.

The Wallabies had their backs up against the wall against Wales last weekend, but the exciting winger was a catalyst for his side’s incredible comeback victory.

Australia were trailing one of their traditional rivals by 21 points midway through the second half, before Nawaqanitawase crossed for two tries in 10 minutes – and later was named the player of the match.

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While the hype is well and truly real, the possible World Cup bolter has a big year ahead of him in 2023.

Speaking on Between Two Posts, Stan Sport commentator Sean Maloney said Nawaqanitawase has the potential to go “really far and take the game with him.”

“Let’s get into Marky Mark and this is always the thing, let’s not overhype him, let’s not talk him up too much,” Maloney said.

“Why not? Why not put pressure on, why not ask more of a kid who has a ceiling that I think is almost infinite at that level.

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“There’s a responsibility somewhere inside either his circle or inside the Wallabies or Waratahs circle that manages that expectation and keeps it balanced.

“From a broadcast and media perspective you’ve got to latch onto guys like this because you know and I know and we all know that for so long now we’ve struggled to establish a wide range of household names.

“That’s factual, there’s no debating that outside of our own sport.

“He has the potential, the looks, the play to go really, really far and take the game with him.”

While the Wallabies were able to end their season with a win – thanks to Nawaqanitawase’s brilliance – their record this season hasn’t been great.

Australia have been competitive in a lot of Test matches against some very good teams, including thrilling losses to France and Ireland, but they’ve been unable to win consistently.

After beginning their season with a two-point win over rivals England in Perth, the men in gold lost six of their next eight internationals before heading to Europe.

But with the emergence of Nawaqanitawase, former Wallaby Morgan Turinui spoke about the possible backline that coach Dave Rennie may play next year.

“Think about it in your mind how that Wallaby backline will look to form next year. I could see him pushing over the right hand side with Marika Koroibete’s return,” Turinui said.

“I think he’ll play right wing at the Tahs, more time over there so he’s always been traditionally a right winger.

“I still think (Dave) Rennie will like (Nic) White but gee Tate (McDermott), a couple of times and some of the things that he does.

“Quade (Cooper) will be the 10, (Samu) Kerevi at 12, (Len) Ikitau at 12.”

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Jon 7 hours ago
Jake White: Are modern rugby players actually better?

This is the problem with conservative mindsets and phycology, and homogenous sports, everybody wants to be the same, use the i-win template. Athlete wise everyone has to have muscles and work at the gym to make themselves more likely to hold on that one tackle. Do those players even wonder if they are now more likely to be tackled by that player as a result of there “work”? Really though, too many questions, Jake. Is it better Jake? Yes, because you still have that rugby of ole that you talk about. Is it at the highest International level anymore? No, but you go to your club or checkout your representative side and still engage with that ‘beautiful game’. Could you also have a bit of that at the top if coaches encouraged there team to play and incentivized players like Damian McKenzie and Ange Capuozzo? Of course we could. Sadly Rugby doesn’t, or didn’t, really know what direction to go when professionalism came. Things like the state of northern pitches didn’t help. Over the last two or three decades I feel like I’ve been fortunate to have all that Jake wants. There was International quality Super Rugby to adore, then the next level below I could watch club mates, pulling 9 to 5s, take on the countries best in representative rugby. Rugby played with flair and not too much riding on the consequences. It was beautiful. That largely still exists today, but with the world of rugby not quite getting things right, the picture is now being painted in NZ that that level of rugby is not required in the “pathway” to Super Rugby or All Black rugby. You might wonder if NZR is right and the pathway shouldn’t include the ‘amateur’, but let me tell you, even though the NPC might be made up of people still having to pull 9-5s, we know these people still have dreams to get out of that, and aren’t likely to give them. They will be lost. That will put a real strain on the concept of whether “visceral thrill, derring-do and joyful abandon” type rugby will remain under the professional level here in NZ. I think at some point that can be eroded as well. If only wanting the best athlete’s at the top level wasn’t enough to lose that, shutting off the next group, or level, or rugby players from easy access to express and showcase themselves certainly will. That all comes back around to the same question of professionalism in rugby and whether it got things right, and rugby is better now. Maybe the answer is turning into a “no”?

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j
john 9 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

But here in Australia we were told Penney was another gun kiwi coach, for the Tahs…….and yet again it turned out the kiwi coach was completely useless. Another con job on Australian rugby. As was Robbie Deans, as was Dave Rennie. Both coaches dumped from NZ and promoted to Australia as our saviour. And the Tahs lap them up knowing they are second rate and knowing that under pressure when their short comings are exposed in Australia as well, that they will fall in below the largest most powerful province and choose second rate Tah players to save their jobs. As they do and exactly as Joe Schmidt will do. Gauranteed. Schmidt was dumped by NZ too. That’s why he went overseas. That why kiwi coaches take jobs in Australia, to try and prove they are not as bad as NZ thought they were. Then when they get found out they try and ingratiate themselves to NZ again by dragging Australian teams down with ridiculous selections and game plans. NZ rugby’s biggest problem is that it can’t yet transition from MCaw Cheatism. They just don’t know how to try and win on your merits. It is still always a contest to see how much cheating you can get away with. Without a cheating genius like McCaw, they are struggling. This I think is why my wise old mate in NZ thinks Robertson will struggle. The Crusaders are the nursery of McCaw Cheatism. Sean Fitzpatrick was probably the father of it. Robertson doesn’t know anything else but other countries have worked it out.

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A
Adrian 11 hours ago
Will the Crusaders' decline spark a slow death for New Zealand rugby?

Thanks Nick The loss of players to OS, injury and retirement is certainly not helping the Crusaders. Ditto the coach. IMO Penny is there to hold the fort and cop the flak until new players and a new coach come through,…and that's understood and accepted by Penny and the Crusaders hierarchy. I think though that what is happening with the Crusaders is an indicator of what is happening with the other NZ SRP teams…..and the other SRP teams for that matter. Not enough money. The money has come via the SR competition and it’s not there anymore. It's in France, Japan and England. Unless or until something is done to make SR more SELLABLE to the NZ/Australia Rugby market AND the world rugby market the $s to keep both the very best players and the next rung down won't be there. They will play away from NZ more and more. I think though that NZ will continue to produce the players and the coaches of sufficient strength for NZ to have the capacity to stay at the top. Whether they do stay at the top as an international team will depend upon whether the money flowing to SRP is somehow restored, or NZ teams play in the Japan comp, or NZ opts to pick from anywhere. As a follower of many sports I’d have to say that the organisation and promotion of Super Rugby has been for the last 20 years closest to the worst I’ve ever seen. This hasn't necessarily been caused by NZ, but it’s happened. Perhaps it can be fixed, perhaps not. The Crusaders are I think a symptom of this, not the cause

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