Nawaqanitawase breaks silence, and it’s not good news for Wallabies
Updated . First published
Mark Nawaqanitawase has not made a decision on which country he will represent at the 2027 Rugby World Cup and will make the Wallabies sweat until next year before showing his hand.
The code-hopping star broke his silence on Instagram on Friday after his agent revealed on Tuesday that Australia, Fiji and Italy were all in play.
Mark Nawaqanitawase of the Wallabies is tackled during the Rugby Championship match against Argentina. nna\simon.chapman
“I just thought I would jump on here as there has been a lot of speculation on my future,” the 26-year-old winger wrote.
“My only focus right now is moving to Japan in a couple of weeks and connecting with my new team at Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights. I will weigh up my options and make a decision next year on my international future. Love Marky.”
On Thursday, Wallabies coach Les Kiss indicated that he was confident Nawaqanitawase would be lining up for Australia.
The code-hopping star has the potential to be the face of next year’s World Cup in Australia after dazzling the nation in the NRL.
“There’s no doubt that, you know, he wants to be back in the game for us, that’s for sure,” Kiss told reporters after naming his Bledisloe Cup team for Saturday in Sydney.
“So we’ll continue our conversations and go from there. I’m not going to speak on his behalf, that’s all - but we know where he wants to play.”
Nawaqanitawase has signed a two-year deal to play for Robbie Deans’ Wild Knights.
He scored six tries in 11 Tests for the Wallabies and moved to the Sydney Roosters after the 2024 Super Rugby season with the NSW Waratahs.
In his two-and-a-bit season stint at the Chooks he became the best winger in the NRL and was in the Clive Churchill Medal conversation for a star turn in the club’s recent grand final triumph.
“He’s been out of rugby for a little while now,” ex-Kangaroos and Queensland league winger Kiss said.
"He's keen to be involved at the right time - and being involved means getting back into rugby, getting to understand the game a little bit better and so, at this stage, we support him in what he does.
“For us, we’ve got plenty of good options, and we’re going to focus on those.”
Nawaqanitawase also represented Australia in rugby league.
But he is also fiercely proud of his Fijian heritage, through his biological father Sevuloni Nawaqanitawase and late stepfather Aisake Tovehi.
Kiss refused to roll out the red carpet for the freakish 26-year-old.
“Everyone will earn their way,” he said.
“If he’s playing good footy, he’ll be in the mix. That’s for sure. There’s no doubt he’s a quality player that we’ll keep an eye on. But, first and foremost, get his rest, get himself together and get into some rugby back in Japan.
“It’s a different game in terms of height and how you attack the game, how you move in the game, how you defend, how the aerial game is different.
James Tedesco will be at the Roosters next year but Mark Nawaqanitawase won’t be. Getty Images
"So he's got a lot of things just to re-learn. Won't take him long, that's for sure. But there's been some positive dialogue between myself and him."
Wallabies captain Harry Wilson was similarly confident about getting the star back in a gold jersey.
“I don’t have to convince him,” Wilson said on Friday.
“I played Junior Wallabies with him, played Wallabies with him, saw him last night supporting the Kangaroos, so I think it’s pretty obvious who he wants to play for.”
Wallabies (1-15): Aidan Ross, Josh Nasser, Allan Alaalatoa, Jeremy Williams, Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight, Harry Wilson (c), Ryan Lonergan, Declan Meredith, Harry Potter, Isaac Henry, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Max Jorgensen, Tom Wright
Reserves: Billy Pollard, Angus Bell, Massimo De Lutiis, Josh Canham, Carlo Tizzano, Kalani Thomas, Harry McLaughlin-Phillips, Filipo Daugunu
All Blacks (1-15): George Bower, Codie Taylor, Fletcher Newell, Scott Barrett, Fabian Holland, Tupou Vaa’i, Peter Lakai, Wallace Sititi, Cam Roigard, Damian McKenzie, Josh Moorby, Jordie Barrett, Quinn Tupaea, Will Jordan, Beauden Barrett
Reserves: Samisoni Taukei’aho, Xavier Numia, Pasilio Tosi, Shannon Frizell, Du’Plessis Kirifi, Cortez Ratima, Timoci Tavatavanawai, Rieko Ioane
Saturday’s schedule at Accor Stadium (all AEDT)
12pm: Wallaroos vs Scotland
2.05pm: Australia men’s sevens team vs Fiji
2.25pm: Australia women’s sevens team vs New Zealand
3.45pm: Wallabies vs All Blacks
Watch the Wallabies and Wallaroos in Saturday’s quadruple header. Add the Stan Sport package to watch rugby live and on demand with no ad-breaks in play
