Ex-Wallaby Mark Nawaqanitawase has spent the summer taking a crash course in centre play as luckless Roosters rookie Rob Toia fills the void left by the $1.5 million pairing of Joey Manu and Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii.
Coach Trent Robinson confirmed after Sunday’s trial loss to the Dragons that the highly rated Toia – who has ruptured both ACLs in the past three seasons – is likely to make his NRL debut at right centre against Brisbane in round one.
Billy Smith is the standout option on the left but has also been limited by a hip injury this pre-season. Robinson believes he and forward Egan Butcher (ACL) will be fit for either round or two.
Smith’s wretched run of injuries has Nawaqanitawase preparing for a potential shift in-field after just one NRL game – albeit one in which he scored a spectacular leaping try with just his third touch against South Sydney last year.
The 100kg flyer has cut an impressive figure at Roosters HQ after a summer coming to grips with defending and wrestling at centre, getting his first taste of the new position in a 26-8 trial loss to St George Illawarra.
The dark art of grappling in the ruck is arguably Nawaqanitawase’s steepest learning curve, given rugby union defenders are penalised if they don’t roll away once a ball-carrier is brought to ground.
Roosters outside back Mark Nawaqanitawase in pre-season training.Credit: Josh Gould/Matina Inceptive
“I’ve had the whole pre-season to get a lot of reps at [centre], so I feel like I’ve come out of that with a lot of confidence in terms of the decision-making and the contact that the centre position will bring,” Nawaqanitawase said.
“Obviously there’s going to be a lot more attack coming my way. Pretty much every day we’re wrestling each other and the contact is pretty full-on.
“Some of the smaller guys – Nat Butcher, Connor Watson – you can tell they’ve been doing it for a while, with the strength they have. And when I get cooked, they know just how to take advantage of it.”
Robinson said Nawaqanitawase’s fullback experience in the 15-man game made him a potential understudy to fullback and captain James Tedesco as well.
Mark Nawaqanitawase slips an offload against the Dragons on Sunday.Credit: Getty Images
“[Nawaqanitawase] could play wing tomorrow and he’d be fine, but I want to see what other positions he could adapt to,” Robinson said.
“We’ve played him at centre and fullback, and we’re trialling other positions he could play throughout the season as well. Wing is an easy choice. But he gives us an opportunity at left centre and also as a back-up to Ted [at fullback].”
Formerly two of the NRL’s highest-paid centres, Manu and Suaalii are part of a combined 1178-game, $6 million absence from the Roosters’ 2025 outfit when injured playmakers Sam Walker and Brandon Smith (ACLs) are included.
The Roosters have salary cap space to entertain a mid-season return for Manu should he not take up his second-year option with Japanese rugby’s Toyota Verblitz.
Meanwhile, Toia is poised to take Manu’s old right-edge spot inside Englishman Dominic Young.
The 20-year-old was given the longest stint of all Roosters outside backs against the Dragons as Robinson looks to build game time after his 2022 and 2023 seasons were ruined by consecutive knee reconstructions.
The Roosters have backed Toia through his injuries and after last year being re-signed until the end of 2027, will again line up in this week’s trial against Newcastle alongside the likes of Tedesco, Lindsay Collins and Angus Crichton.
“Rob has trained really well, done a good job there so he’ll keep playing there,” Robinson said.
Robert Toia in action for the Roosters.Credit: NRL Imagery
“You’ve always got to have two or three options and guys change sides, but Rob is doing a good job at the moment.
“I don’t think he’s missed a day this pre-season. He’s trained every single day. He’s an intelligent thinker in the game and while he doesn’t say too much, he’s very clear on his role and now he just needs time on the paddock. He’s a very good footballer and now it’s time to play.”
