'I miss that part': Mark Nawaqanitawase reveals keys reasons behind decision to return to rugby
The NRL's leading try-scorer Mark Nawaqanitawase says the lure of travelling the world and playing more of a roaming role on the field was key to his decision to return to the 15-man game.
Nawaqanitawase will leave the Roosters at the end of next season to challenge for a spot in the Wallabies squad for the 2027 World Cup to be staged in Australia.
The Roosters needed to make the outside back the highest-earning winger ever if they were any chance to keep him in the NRL, but the opportunity to play with more freedom on the field and have opportunities to play in other countries was a carrot he couldn't ignore.
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"I love the game of union," Nawaqanitawase told ABC Pacific.
"There are a lot of things that I miss. I guess the freedom. If you come to league, I guess you're kind of stuck to one side, it's very structured.
"So in that sense, I miss that part where I could roam and get up to doing different things on any side."
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Mark Nawaqanitawase of the Wallabies runs with the ball. Getty
While Nawaqanitwase is tipped to play for the Kangaroos in the end-of-season Ashes tour of England, he will attract massive offers from overseas clubs.
"The cool thing about union is you can travel the world," Nawaqanitawase said.
"Travelling the world and just meeting different cultures and different people… is an experience I wish all people could experience."
The defection was met with regret by many leading voices in the NRL, but Phil Gould called the signing a "good investment."
"It seems to me we've heard this song before... it was the same thing with Suaalii," he said on Wide World of Sports' Six Tackles With Gus.
"That's a loss, but that's the modern world. They've bought a good player, but they've bought 12 months of publicity now. It's a good investment."
