Billy Slater believes the “freakish” type of Mark Nawaqanitawase might earn the Sydney Roosters star a call-up to the Kangaroos squad later this 12 months.
The 23-year-old has taken rugby league by storm over the previous 12 months, bringing his skills throughout from rugby union and changing into a real family title.
Nawaqanitawase has scored 16 tries, produced seven strive assists and damaged 93 tackles in his first full season of NRL, serving to the new-look Chooks stand up the ladder.
READ MORE: ‘All that has modified’: Roosters gamers activate Smith
READ MORE: Hird rips precedence pitch from ‘wealthiest membership within the AFL’
READ MORE: Crunch board assembly to find out Knights coach’s future
Alongside the best way, the person dubbed “Marky Mark” by footy followers has provide you with extra spotlight reel performs than most gamers might provide you with of their complete careers.
His newest piece of brilliance – an unimaginable flick move for teammate Robert Toia – despatched followers and specialists right into a frenzy, regardless of the facet’s loss to Parramatta.
A type of admirers is Slater, who was in awe of the talent on show from the previous Wallabies flyer not solely on Saturday evening, however all year long.
“That was in all probability the very best flick move I’ve seen – it was a bullet,” the Maroons coach stated on 9’s The Billy Slater Podcast.
“He was going into contact and it hit Robert Toia on the chest and he simply fell over the road.
Mark Nawaqanitawase’s flick move 9
“He is carried out some particular issues. He is a beautiful participant. I feel he is incredible, I like the best way he performs. He is received nice strengths, he is good below the excessive ball and he is an enormous, highly effective type of get out of hassle participant as effectively.
“After they get it proper the Roosters, they unlock all this expertise on this footy group and he is actually one. When he will get the ball, he can do some freakish issues.”
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership reside and free on 9 and 9Now.
Nawaqanitawase’s kind and the very fact the Roosters are closing in on a finals berth has seen a push for him to be included in Kevin Walters‘ squad for the Ashes sequence develop.
Whereas there are many different outdoors backs who might earn choice, the real X-factor and game-breaking capability that Nawaqanitawase possesses is hard to miss.
Mark Nawaqanitawase Getty
Slater believes it is solely a matter of time earlier than Nawaqanitawase is on the largest stage.
“I get the sensation that the Roosters jersey is not the one one he is gonna be sporting within the subsequent couple of years,” Slater stated.
“I feel he is gonna be sporting a few different jerseys – perhaps a inexperienced and gold one on the finish of the 12 months.”
Ought to he earn a debut for the Kangaroos, he would be a part of the likes of Wendell Sailor, Lote Tuqiri, Mat Rogers and Israel Folau as dual-code internationals for Australia.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Sonny Invoice Williams and Sam Burgess have additionally performed on the worldwide stage in each league and union.