Roosters centre Junior Pauga is facing up to five weeks on the sideline for a reckless high tackle on Canterbury’s Connor Tracey, putting the backline stocks of Trent Robinson under the microscope and escalating discussions about getting former Wallabies wing Mark Nawaqanitawase to the club early.
Pauga was sent off late in an impressive 28-6 win over the Bulldogs on Saturday night for a coathanger tackle that concussed Tracey and ruled him out of Friday’s critical clash against Cronulla under NRL protocols.
A grade 2 reckless high tackle charge against Pauga will see him miss at least the next month unless he can successfully challenge the ruling or grading at the NRL judiciary.
The Roosters would risk a five-game ban if Pauga is found guilty after challenging.
Trent Robinson’s side has moved into the top four but there are concerns out wide given Pauga joins Joseph Suaalii (suspended until mid-July), Billy Smith (ankle), Lewis Murphy (scaphoid) and Robert Toia (knee) on the sidelines.
Veteran centre Michael Jennings is hopeful of returning soon from a hamstring issue. Picking an uncapped Ethan King for Sunday’s match against Wests Tigers is an option.
The Roosters want Mark Nawaqanitawase to make the switch now.Credit: Getty
The Roosters have raised the potential of an early release for Nawaqanitawase from his Rugby Australia contract to take up his two-year NRL deal before its original 2025 start date.
Enquiries have been lodged with the NRL around the June 30 transfer deadline given Nawaqanitawase is no longer in Wallabies contention, but he is being considered for Australia’s Olympic rugby sevens squad.
Nawaqanitawase flew to Darwin with the Australian sevens team on Sunday for a camp, and coach John Manenti is set to finalise his 12-man squad by the end of the week. The team will be officially named by the AOC on July 3.
The Roosters have asked NRL head office about the possibility of an exemption to the June 30 cut-off if Nawaqanitawase misses Olympic selection, which would make him potentially available at the start of July.
A post-Olympics registration, beginning in August, if Nawaqanitawasegoes to Paris, has also been raised.
“At this stage the Roosters have expressed interest in bringing Mark Nawaqanitawase prior to his contract start date,” his agent, Milan Volavola-Shankar, told this masthead.
“We are in the midst of discussions and negotiations with Rugby Australia about the prospect of an early release subject to his pending selection in rugby sevens for the Olympics.”
Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt said last week he would not stand in the way of Nawaqanitawase, or Gold Coast signing Carter Gordon, seeking early releases to join the NRL.
Roosters halfback Sam Walker, Rabbitohs star Jack Wighton (both careless high tackles) and Warrior Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (dangerous throw) were among a host of players issued monetary fines for minor offences in Saturday’s games.
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