Latest news with #MarkNawaqanitawase
News.com.au
21-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
‘Wasn't up to scratch': Roosters on notice as Storm looks to bounce back from costly loss in star's milestone match
Milestone man Xavier Coates will play his 100th NRL game on Thursday night, but the human highlights reel isn't ready to celebrate after a Storm performance that 'wasn't up to scratch' and could cost them a crucial top-two finish. Coates suffered his first loss at AAMI Park since 2022 when the Storm were upset by Manly thanks to a late penalty goal despite him scoring three tries. It sets up a cracking contest with Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase, who is level with him on 13 tries and has already wrapped up try of the year after Coates won it last year. Scoring tries isn't the Storm star's main focus after his side completed just 71 per cent of their sets and conceded two costly penalties to drop to third spot ahead of a tricky trip to Sydney. 'We've had some really tough conversations over the last few days in the review of the game, and our discipline wasn't up to scratch,' he said. 'We weren't completing like we usually do, and it was an off game for all of us boys, but we're looking to bounce back on Thursday and we know we're coming up against another quality opposition in the Roosters, so we've got to be on our 'A' game. 'Our performance wasn't up to scratch on Saturday night and it's not the style of footy that we want to play. 'We're fixing it up during this training week and making sure we're nailing basics first and foremost and not trying to play flashy footy.' Dolphins flyer Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow is the only player who has scored more tries than the aerial acrobat this season, but a win is all he wants after a mixed night against Manly. It's a bird... It's a plane... It's Xavier Coates! 🦸â€�♂ï¸� — NRL (@NRL) July 19, 2025 'All that stuff is nice and all, but there are a lot of things that I want to fix up in my game,' he said. 'There were a lot of things that I feel I didn't do well on Saturday night, so I know this week I want to fix them up, and hopefully I come out on Thursday and fix that all up.' Coates has taken a lot of confidence out of Queensland's State of Origin win and is feeling good after dealing with hamstring issues in the past. He's playing his most consistent footy in his fourth season at the club after he made his debut with the Broncos, with Coates scoring 72 tries heading into his 100th appearance. 'It's a bit of a weird feeling. It's gone pretty quickly and I still feel like an 18-year-old,' he said. 'I'm 24 now and will have 100 games under my belt, so it's a surreal feeling. It's a massive achievement to do it here at the Melbourne Storm which is such a great club that have done so much for me. 'My teacher and mentor back on the Gold Coast for junior footy was Matty Geyer, who played here at the Melbourne Storm and is a club legend. 'He's done so much for the game and so much for the club. He used to speak about how great of a club it is, and I always thought what it would be like to play there. 'Now that I'm in the position I'm in, it's a surreal feeling and I'm really excited to go out on Thursday and do my job to hopefully get the win.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Wallabies urged to sign 'five NRL players' amid backlash over post-match move
Corey Parker has urged Rugby Australia to try and sign "four or five" of the NRL's best players to make the Wallabies a rugby powerhouse once more. The Aussies went down 27-19 in the first Test against the British and Irish Lions on Saturday night, with two more matches to play. And although the Wallabies fought back from being down 24-5, alarm bells were ringing about how the rest of the series might go. Speaking on SEN radio on Monday, Brisbane Broncos great Parker said Rugby Australia should be doing everything in their power to poach some of the NRL's best talent. They've already convinced Joseph Suaalii to jump ship on a $5 million deal, but that was offset by Mark Nawaqanitawase going the other way to league. "I watched every minute of the game - and I do follow the rugby because my son plays," Parker said. "The Wallabies looked like a team that hadn't had much preparation at all. "They did finish with more possession than the Lions, but our attacking raids were a real downside (to our game). If the Wallabies are fair dinkum, they need to go after at least four or five NRL players, to finish and play a style of football that will have them competing with the best in the world." Parker name-dropped State of Origin wingers Xavier Coates, Zac Lomax and Brian To'o as the perfect candidates for rugby to target. "The lack of ability to make metres, and the lack of ability to create an attacking raid, there was just no class in certain areas," he said. "Late in that game a kick came over towards Harry Potter and he couldn't get there quick enough. "I'm talking guys like Xavier Coates, Zac Lomax and Brian To'o - these guys that score those tries 99 out of 100 times. They can create offloads, second phase play. I didn't see any of that really. I just thought there was a real inability from the Wallabies to create anything, and they didn't ask any questions of the defensive line." Parker was talking from an NRL perspective, but maybe that's what the Wallabies need. "Maybe the Wallabies need to play a style of football that encompasses their best attacking weapons," he said. "Joseph Suaalii isn't a battering finishers on the edges need to be better." Wallabies under fire in UK over 'un-Australian' scenes Unfortunately for the Wallabies it's not just their style of play that's being criticised. Back in the UK, a number of strange moments have been described as "un-Australian" that sum up a lack of killer instinct. Wallabies captain Harry Wilson raised eyebrows when he opted to kick the ball dead to end the game, rather than keep fighting for some late points. And the sight of Wallabies players mingling with their rival players after the game has also caused some controversy. World Cup-winning coach Clive Woodward wrote for The Daily Mail: 'What summed up the game for me was with the clock in the red and with the Lions winning 27-19, the Australian captain Harry Wilson kicked the ball out to end the game. Talk about a losing mentality. "For me, it is the last play of the game so why not have a mentality to try and score as this could be the situation in seven days' time, only closer? Why not rehearse this scenario? Why would any player, especially the captain, want to end the game? That in so many ways reflects the current state of Australian rugby which is clearly not in a great position.' Former Lions player Tom Shanklin said on the BBC's coverage: 'It seemed weird that Australia were socialising with the Lions players, weird they kicked the ball out at the end, it was like it was a bonus-point loss. You want to see an Australia team deliver, to try and (show) some endeavour and they are lacking a lot in attack." Former England winger Chris Ashton added: 'In the post-match, Australia's players were mixing and mingling with the Lions, they seemed really happy. I cannot get my head around (that), it seems they are almost happy that the Lions are there." RELATED: Roosters fans get definitive answer as Joey Manu signs next contract Wallabies star calls out glaring truth after British and Irish Lions shafted Oliver Brown of the UK Telegraph wrote: 'Australia were a pale imitation of the great Wallabies sides… Joe Schmidt's side will require a miracle to achieve anything comparable. For large swathes of this game their performance was, quite simply, un-Australian, bereft of ferocity or any apparent belief they could win. "How odd, too, to see them mingling happily with the Lions at the final whistle, simply relieved that they had not suffered a humiliation. So much for the notion of a defeat, any defeat, eating away at the true Australian's soul.'
News.com.au
01-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
NRL Round 18: Teams Talk and Live SuperCoach Q&A
With weeks to prepare for the final big bye round of the season the vast majority of SuperCoaches should be sitting pretty heading into round 18. That's even with the Jacob Kiraz and Gehamat Shibasaki Origin selection curveballs. All of which is leading up to a surprise confession - I'm not trading this week. Which is not to say that there are no good buys this week. Those of you who own Luke Metcalf can choose from one very good half, two somewhat risky five-eighths and one very risky five-eighth/fullback. Elsewhere, in the popular trades to dissect there's a CTW I very much like (but possibly prefer others later), a second-row I very much like (but definitely prefer others later) and a CTW cheapie who I think buyers may regret. Let's dive in! BUY/SELL ANALYSIS The very good CTW - and the guys I'd possibly prefer to wait for … Mark Nawaqanitawase: The Roosters 'rookie' keeps doing spectacular things in attack, has scored nine tries in his past seven games, and has match-ups against the battling Wests Tigers and Dragons in his next two matches. So, 'why do you prefer others', you might ask - and even if you didn't I will tell you. How many CTW do we need? Let's start with the fundamental question - do we need more CTW. By this stage of the season I am willing to bet (all are in over 80% of teams currently ranked in the top 10%) you own the following CTWs: Dylan Lucas, Reuben Garrick, Herbie Farnworth and Jacob Kiraz. You also almost certainly own late season Broncos money maker Josiah Karapani. That leaves two CTW slots to fill. And, perhaps more pertinently, you also almost certainly have three gun fullbacks, at least three gun halves and almost certainly eight, but at a minimum seven gun FRF/2RF combined. We only have four reserve slots. Assuming your fullback is largely locked into one, then that leaves three. I'll almost always want my half to take another. The gun forwards are doing their job providing a safe 70 (ish) PPG - let's assume you have Terrell May/Payne Haas locked into FRF and Eliesa Katoa/Keaon Koloamatangi/AN Other locked into 2RF. That's your five starters. Around those you'll have others - and I think there are two forwards we should definitely target post-Origin - but with the CTW cohort performing so well I think it is fair to suggest that you will be saving two reserve slots for them. So in answer to my own question: I think we definitely need five and strongly desire six quality CTWs. Is 'Marky Mark' one of the CTW we need? This hurts me to my Rooster Booster core - but I say no. Barring injuries I have Nawaqanitawase outside my top-four CTW. That means I am playing him as a reserve based on match-ups. And the match-ups are not great. After the aforementioned Tigers and Dragons the Roosters' draw toughens right up. From round 20 onwards the draw goes like this: * Rd 20 Sharks (Away) * Rd 21 Storm (Home) * Rd 22 Manly (Away) * Rd 23 Dolphins (Away) * Rd 24 Bulldogs (Home) * Rd 25 Eels (Away) * Rd 26 Storm (Away) * Rd 27 Souths (Home) The Sharks are not travelling great, but still have the sixth best record defending against CTW. He's a play there but with risk. The Storm are never a great team to play against. Rounds 21 and 26 are No Play. Manly at home is tough, and are equal 9th at defending CTW, I'd still say he's a play - but again with risk. The Dolphins can be a little hit and miss but I feel the injuries have finally become too much - play. The Bulldogs have the best defence in the league - no play. They will still win games but I expect teams to score okay there. Even away he's a play. The Eels are a play. Which leaves round 27 against Souths. This game is always a, pardon my french, shitshow. There's be high hits, sin bins and no matter their respective places on the radar either team could win. Play - but risky. That's two strong plays, three risky plays and three no plays. Not great. Chuck in rounds 18 and 19 and that's four plays, three risky plays and three no plays. That's better. But I prefer the two men below. Once Origin is over I will be chasing one or both of Zac Lomax and Val Holmes. I'm already waaaaay over Tom's laughable 300 word limit for this story so won't do a deep dive into their respective draws. But rest easy knowing that in my opinion they have roughly the same number of Play/Risky and No play games as Mark N. But the crucial difference is that both Lomax and Holmes are goalkickers. That job provides a 10-12PPG buffer for each men and so makes them more reliable even in 'risky' games. Holmes has scored 60+ in 85% of games. Lomax has scored 60+ in 80% of games. Nawaqanitawase has scored 60+ in just 67% of games. Conclusion: As tempted as I am by Nawaqanitawase, I really do think we're better off waiting till after Origin III and buying Lomax and/or Holmes to finish the position. The very good 2RF - and the guys I'd prefer to wait for … Jacob Preston is the second most popular buy of the week. And while I do not oppose it - it's hard to knock a forward who has scored five times from his past seven games and has the fifth best average at his position - I still think that the better option is to wait until after Origin III and target either Hudson Young or Angus Crichton. Young has a better base than Preston and at least as good a try scoring potential. The Canberra left edge has scored triple figures four times (Preston once) and 85+ three other occasions (as has Preston). Unavailable for selection this week due to Origin, then on a bye in round 19, Young then has an enviable draw (though the round 24 bye is not ideal) with five matches against bottom-eight teams, four which are at home, and three of which are against cellar dwellers the Knights, Tigers and Eels. Crichton is more of a gamble. Currently averaging fully 13PPG less than his 2024 output, the Roosters left-edge forward has scored just one try so far this year. That will change. Available for less than $600K, in under 5% of teams and with a pedigree of going big when he scores, I think the Mighty Angus is the 2RF POD who could win you a H2H battle late in 2025. A DISCLAIMER Now, I realise that maybe those buying Preston or Nawaqanitawase this week plan to ALSO get the likes of Lomax/Holmes/Young next week. In which case go for it. But if it is an either/or scenario then you know my position. The Luke Metcalf replacement options … Jahrome Hughes: The Storm halfback has been rather rocks or diamonds this year with three tonnes (and one 90+) to his name but also three under 50 in the past five games alone. Melbourne's medium-term draw is great (Cowboys (without Origin stars), Knights, Manly, Roosters and Eels. But their draw to finish the season - Broncos, Panthers, Bulldogs, Roosters and Broncos - is not. MEDIUM BUY Ethan Strange: The Canberra five-eighth has the second-best 3RA of any 5/8|HFB and as mentioned above the Raiders draw (other than still having two byes left) is good. I do feel that Strange has made the most of what has been a very soft recent draw. RISKY BUY Ezra Mam: The Broncos five-eighth has been good on his return from suspension. Good not great. I prefer Hughes or Strange. PASS Kaeo Weekes: Speaking of rocks or diamonds, the Canberra fullback posted his third triple-figure score of the season last weekend. However, in the weeks before that big score, Weekes went 25, 45, 24 and 29. PASS The CTW cheapie we don't need … Jed Stuart: 'Ricky's son' has scored a try in each of his NRL games so far which is a fair strike rate. He also upped his workrate last week making 16 runs and 11 tackles (with two misses) both numbers a big lift on his debut. What I don't love is that despite scoring tries in each match Stuart has scored just 45 then 44 points. Despite the negative BE and the aforementioned draw, I just don't think Stuart has the SC game we need from a late cheapie. PASS
News.com.au
24-06-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Is Mark Nawaqanitawase eyeing a Wallabies return?
Mark Nawaqanitawase changed codes in 2024, jumping from Rugby Union to the NRL. But could the Sydney Rooster be eyeing a return to the Wallabies?
Sydney Morning Herald
23-06-2025
- Sport
- Sydney Morning Herald
‘Why I signed for two years': Rugby World Cup still a key factor in Marky Mark's future
Code-hopping star Mark Nawaqanitawase won't be making a call on his future any time soon, but says the lure of playing in the 2027 Rugby World Cup on Australian soil will be a significant factor in his next contract. Nawaqanitawase's blossoming rugby league career is still just 10 months old, but has delivered 11 tries in 12 games (second in the NRL) this season, and talk of a Roosters contract extension already. Tricolours management have been impressed with Nawaqanitawase's form and character, and have already raised the prospect of an upgraded deal beyond 2026. All contract talks have been parked until the end of this season following early dialogue with his management, given Nawaqanitawase's initial two-year, $500,000-a-year deal still has 18 months to run. Nonetheless, the Roosters are wary of a potential Rugby Australia bid to lure the former Wallaby and Olympic sevens star back. Expansion outfit Perth Bears are also viewed as a potential poaching threat from November 1 when Nawaqanitawase can field official offers from NRL rivals. The 24-year-old was surprised but chuffed when told of the Roosters' interest in re-signing talks after he scored two tries in Sunday's 42-8 thumping of North Queensland, and insisted his priority remains on the paddock. Given the obvious appeal of fighting for a Wallabies World Cup berth though, with Australia hosting the tournament from October 2027, Nawaqanitawase said the marquee event has been on his radar since he made his switch to rugby league. 'Honestly, I'm just getting into my footy still,' Nawaqanitawase said. 'I've got to focus on my game given it is a new game I'm still learning.
