Wallabies Consider Mark Nawaqanitawase for Spring Tour

Australia coach Les Kiss hasn’t closed the door on Mark Nawaqanitawase potentially joining the Wallabies on their November tour of Great Britain, saying he will discuss plans with the superstar winger after the Roosters’ premiership celebrations die down.

Nawaqanitawase finished his 26-month stint in the NRL on Sunday by scoring two tries in the Roosters’ grand final victory over Newcastle, capping a remarkable cross-code switch that also saw the 26-year-old play for NSW and Australia.

The 11-cap Wallaby is next month starting a two-year contract with Japanese rugby club Panasonic Saitama Wild Knights, where he will earn $1.5 million a season.

Nawaqanitawase is eligible for Wallabies selection, given the month of November is a mandated international release window under World Rugby regulations.

The dual international has indicated he may take a break, however, and use November to move to Kumagaya and join the Wild Knights in camp, ahead of the League One season starting on December 12.

Informed sources not authorised to comment publicly say Nawaqanitawase is keen to be respectful to his new club, but it’s unclear if his position could change if Panasonic give approval for the try-scoring flyer to join the Wallabies.

Speaking at the Wallabies team announcement in Auckland on Thursday, ahead of the Bledisloe Cup match at Eden Park on Saturday, Kiss said he was stoked for Nawaqanitawase to win an NRL title, and he expected he would talk to him soon.

“I haven’t heard back from him yet, but we’ll see,” Kiss said, while jokingly checking his phone. “That space will be filled. I’ve just let it settle for this week, we’ll have some conversations and see where it goes.”

Nawaqanitawase has been lauded for his freakish skills in the NRL, but Kiss said last week he and fellow Rooster Angus Crichton, who is joining the Waratahs next year, would have to earn their spots in the team. The Wallabies have a back three of Max Jorgensen, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and Tom Wright.

Given the Wallabies’ Anzac Day clash with New Zealand falls outside World Rugby’s Regulation 9 window, Nawaqanitawase would not get a chance to play Test rugby again until July if he didn’t go on the spring tour. The Wallabies’ World Cup squad would likely be named at the end of August.

Asked if he would like to take Nawaqanitawase on tour, to have him back with the group before July, Kiss said: “I won’t know (more) until I talk to him, really. I’ve had only one chat to him before this, in the early part of the season and I said I’d leave him alone.

“I did text him in the Origin to say ‘don’t play well’ against Queensland, yeah, I’ve had no contact. I’ve really kept a clear mind on that part. He’s obviously a flavour of the moment, for sure, but I’m focused on our boys this weekend.”

Kiss said he was happy for the success of the Roosters and their rugby connections, which also included inbound Waratahs coach Michael Cheika.

“I’m really pleased … for all of them. Cheik as well and Angus … well done. It’s cool,” Kiss said.

“And Trent (Robinson), he’s a superb coach. He held that club together, led them well, and, it was a good victory. It was probably tougher than they thought, but it was nice to see some of those guys that we know well get that.”

Informed sources say Crichton is long-odds to make the Wallabies’ tour, or the Australia A tour of the US, after pushing through a foot injury in the last few weeks of the Roosters’ finals campaign.

He is more likely to undergo rehabilitation in a pre-season campaign with Cheika and the Waratahs.

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