Rugby union star and Australia international Mark Nawaqanitawase has agreed to join Sydney Roosters as a replacement for rugby union bound Joseph Suaali’i.
The winger is a major coup for the sport and was the first of a recent influx of signings made by rugby league of stars from the 15 man code.
He has now revealed that he held a secret meeting with the club back in June in a move to make the switch to the Roosters.
“League has always been a part of my journey, it wasn’t the first time teams had been interested before,” 23-year-old Nawaqanitawase, who played in the Balmain junior league competition, told this masthead.
“But probably the moment I really considered this, it started six months ago, I met with Trent back then.
“That first meeting gave that feeling that this could happen. The Roosters are such a great club, but Trent, he is a genius. Just the way we spoke about footy, it triggered that possibility that I could really do this.
“That sparked it, and it went from there. That meeting was just a little thing that sparked it, but I did have a season to play and at the World Cup which I was lucky enough to get on.
“In those conversations, aside from the footy side, was that footy doesn’t last forever,” Nawaqanitawase said.
“When we spoke, I found out about things they can help me with off the field, in terms of how I can be a better person, but also how I can better my life outside of footy, which is something all footballers should dive into at some point in their careers.
“For me, getting better as a person on and off the field was very important. I really do think the Roosters can help me in both areas.
“Coming back to that lunch that we had, there are things you need to think of beyond your football career.”
It will be interesting to see how he fairs when he finally makes the official move to the Roosters in the coming years as well as how Suaali’i fairs going the other way.
