Mark Nawaqanitawase

Mark Nawaqanitawase
Personal information
Full nameMark Ermanno Dukutoko Nawaqanitawase
Born (2000-09-11) 11 September 2000
Burwood, New South Wales, Australia
Height190 cm (6 ft 3 in)
Weight100 kg (15 st 10 lb)
Playing information
Rugby union
PositionWing
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2018 Eastwood 17 9 0 0 45
2019 NSW Country Eagles 6 4 0 0 20
2020–24 Waratahs 58 23 0 0 115
Total 81 36 0 0 180
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2019 Australia U20 7 4 0 0 20
2022 Australia A 5 2 0 0 10
2022–23 Australia 11 6 0 0 30
2022–24 Australia Sevens
Rugby league
PositionWing, Centre
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2024– Sydney Roosters 26 26 0 0 104
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
2025– Australia 3 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]
As of 13 March 2026

Mark Ermanno Dukutoko Nawaqanitawase (Fijian: [nawaŋanitaˈwaze] na-wong-ah-nee-taw-WAW-zay; born 11 September 2000), nicknamed "Marky Mark",[2] is an Australian professional rugby league footballer who plays as a centre or winger for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL and for the Australia national team.

He previously played rugby union as a winger for the New South Wales Waratahs in the Super Rugby and for the Australia national rugby union team internationally.[3] Nawaqanitawase also played rugby sevens at the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.

Early life

Nawaqanitawase was born in Burwood in Sydney's Inner West, New South Wales, Australia.[4][5] He is of Fijian and Italian heritage.[6][7] He played rugby league for Concord-Burwood Wolves and Leichhardt Wanderers in his youth,[8] until he swapped over to rugby union aged 14.[6]

Rugby union career

Nawaqanitawase played schoolboy rugby for St Patrick's College, Strathfield. As an adult, he began his first-class career with Eastwood RFC in the Shute Shield competition.

With his similarities in height, position, body type, and playing style, Nawaqanitawase has been likened to former Waratahs fullback and dual Australia and Tonga representative Israel Folau.[9][10]

NSW Country

2018–19

Nawaqanitawase began his professional career in 2018, signing with the NSW Country Eagles in the National Rugby Championship. He scored his first professional try in a 24–24 draw against the Fijian Drua on 14 September 2019.[11] He scored another three tries in a year which saw the Eagles win the Horan-Little Shield for the first time since 2016.

Following the 2019 season, the NRC competition was disbanded including franchises.

Waratahs

2020–22

Nawaqanitawase signed to the Waratahs squad for the 2020 season.[12][13] He made his Super Rugby debut against the Crusaders on 1 February 2020, scoring two tries in a 42–23 loss. He scored another try the following week against the Blues. Nawaqanitawase finished his debut season having played 9 matches and scoring 4 tries.

In 2021, despite a disappointing year for the club, Nawaqanitawase extended his contract with the Waratahs until the end of the 2023 season.

Nawaqanitawase had a breakout 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season, starting in 10 of his 12 matches, scoring seven tries and playing a total of 842' in a year which saw the Waratahs finish 6th on the ladder and reach the Quarter-finals.

Japan

In January 2026, The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Nawaqanitawase had signed a two-year deal for more than A$1 million a season to play for an unnamed club in the Japan Rugby League One (JRLO),[14] with strong interest also coming from clubs in the French Top 14.[14] Nawaqanitawase had advised the Sydney Roosters in September 2025 of his wish to depart the club upon the expiration of his contract in 2026, with the intent to pursue a return to rugby union in preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.[15][16] As he has been inactive internationally for Australia's first, second, and sevens national teams in rugby union since 2024, and since Rugby Australia (RA) scrapped Giteau's law in August 2025,[17][18] Nawaqanitawase would be eligible to represent Australia, Fiji or Italy by the 2027 Rugby World Cup.[14]

International rugby union

Australia U20

Nawaqanitawase was a part of the U20 side that won their first title of the 2019 Oceania Rugby U20 Championship. Nawaqanitawase played twice and scored twice, with both tries being scored against Japan U20.

In the 2019 World Rugby U20 Championship, Nawaqanitawase played all five of the Junior Wallabies' matches, including the final against France in which he scored the second-fastest try in a World Rugby U20 Championship final. Unfortunately, the Junior Wallabies lost by one point: 23–24.[19][20]

Australia A

In 2022, following an incredibly successful year with the Waratahs, Nawaqanitawase was named in the Australia A squad for the Pacific Nations Cup. Australia A finished runner–up in the tournament. Nawaqanitawase was again named in the Australia A squad for the three-match series against Japan. He played in two matches and scored two tries in the series win.

Australia

In 2022, Nawaqanitawase was named in the Australia squad for their 2022 spring tour. On 13 November 2022, Nawaqanitawase was named in the number 14 jersey in his debut match against Italy which the Wallabies lost 28 to 27. On 27 November, he scored two tries against Wales helping leading the Wallabies to a 39 to 34 win.

Nawaqanitawase represented Australia in the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby sevens

Nawaqanitawase was named in the Australia sevens team for the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris.[21][22] The team finished in fourth place.

Rugby league career

Sydney Roosters

On 7 December 2023, it was announced that he would join the Sydney Roosters in the NRL for the 2025 season, with Roosters' winger Joseph Suaalii going in the opposite direction to rugby union after the 2024 season.[23] On 24 August 2024, Nawaqanitawase scored a try on debut for the Roosters.[24]

2025

During round eleven, Nawaqanitawase scored two tries during the Roosters' loss to Canterbury. His second try in the 67th minute was labelled the 'try of the decade', as he was going into touch but he hopped and kicked the ball before he went over the sideline and regathered it to score.[25] In round 16, Nawaqanitawase scored two tries in the Roosters' 42-8 victory over North Queensland.[26] In round 23, he scored a hat-trick in the Sydney Roosters 64-12 victory over the Dolphins.[27] In Round 26, he scored four tries in a 40-10 victory over the Melbourne Storm. The following week, he scored another hat-trick in the club's 36-6 victory over arch-rivals South Sydney.[28]

International rugby league

Mark made his debut for the Australian Kangaroos against England at Wembley Stadium in the first 2025 Rugby League Ashes game on 25 October 2025. Australia would win 26-6. By debuting, he became the 49th dual-code rugby international for Australia.

Rugby league statistics

NRL statistics

Year Team Games Tries Pts
2024 Sydney Roosters 1 1 4
2025 23 24 96
Totals 24 25 100

source:[29]

International statistics

Year Team Games Tries Pts
2025 Australia 3 0 0
Totals 0 0 0

source:[30]

References

  1. ^ Rugby League Project
  2. ^
    • Payten, Iain (5 September 2024). "On your Marky Marks: Who is the NRL's new rookie, and how do you pronounce that surname?". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
    • Walsh, Dan (24 June 2025). "'Why I signed for two years': Rugby World Cup still a key factor in Marky Mark's future". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
    • "Marky Mark's moment of magic claims try of the year". nrl.com. National Rugby League. 1 October 2025.
  3. ^ "Mark Nawaqanitawase". NSW Waratahs. Archived from the original on 30 September 2020. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  4. ^ Decent, Tom (18 January 2020). "'Definitely a goal': Nawaqanitawase remaining grounded but wants a Super Rugby debut". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. "I'd have to hear it from him," said Nawaqanitawase, who was born in Burwood and plays his club rugby with Eastwood. "I don't want to get ahead of myself.
  5. ^ Pandaram, Jamie (7 December 2023). "Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase signs with Sydney Roosters on two-year deal". Code Sports. News Corp Australia. Nawaqanitawase, born in Burwood, played rugby league until he was 14.
  6. ^ a b Decent, Tom (18 January 2020). "'Definitely a goal': Nawaqanitawase remaining grounded but wants a Super Rugby debut". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  7. ^ Lembke, Oliver (18 January 2020). "Just call me Mark: Waratahs teen Nawaqanitawase makes a name for himself on debut". Rugby.com.au. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  8. ^ Robinson, Georgina (8 February 2020). "Adam and Mark: Where it all began for Doueihi and Nawaqanitawase". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Mark Nawaqanitawase". Ultimate Rugby. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  10. ^ "'The Next Israel Folau': From Obscurity to the Junior Wallabies". The Sydney Morning Herald. 26 May 2019. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  11. ^ "225 vs Fijian Drua | National Rugby Championship | Latest Rugby Fixtures & Results | RUGBY.com.au". www.rugby.com.au.
  12. ^ "NSW Waratahs Squad". NSW Waratahs. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  13. ^ "Nawaqanitawase graduates to NSW Waratahs senior squad" (Press release). NSW Waratahs. 21 October 2019. Archived from the original on 22 October 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  14. ^ a b c Drennan, Jonathan (19 January 2026). "Nawaqanitawase lands multimillion-dollar Japan deal to keep World Cup dream alive". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment. Archived from the original on 19 January 2026. Retrieved 20 January 2026.
  15. ^ Chammas, Michael (23 September 2025). "Mark Nawaqanitawase set to leave Roosters for rugby return". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  16. ^ "Roosters bombshell as breakout star to quit the club... for now as Aussie sides all snubbed". Fox Sports Australia. News Corp Australia. 23 September 2025.
  17. ^ Drennan, Jonathan (5 August 2025). "Giteau Law 'redundant' as Wallabies look to build on Lions success". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment.
  18. ^ Grey, Lachie (5 August 2025). "Giteau Law 'redundant' as RA confirms all overseas players available for Test selection". Rugby.com.au. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025.
  19. ^ "Heartbreak for history chasing Junior Wallabies". Fox Sports Australia. 23 June 2019. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  20. ^ Decent, Tom (23 June 2019). "Junior Wallabies fall short in under-20 world championship final". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 11 June 2020.
  21. ^ "Rugby Sevens launches Australia's Olympics campaign tonight". www.rugby.com.au. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 25 July 2024.
  22. ^ "Paris 2024 Olympics: Charlotte Caslick, Nicholas Malouf to Captain Australian Rugby Sevens Teams - Full Squads". olympics.com. 3 July 2024. Retrieved 26 July 2024.
  23. ^ "Australia winger Mark Nawaqanitawase to defect to rugby league". BBC Sport. 7 December 2023.
  24. ^ "Mark Nawaqanitawase breaks four tackles to score on league debut | Rugbydump". www.rugbydump.com. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  25. ^ Pentony, Luke (18 May 2025). "Why NRL's 'try of the decade' reminds Wallabies of what they're missing". ABC News. Retrieved 24 May 2025.
  26. ^ "Young gun shines as Tedesco leads Roosters back to top eight with rout of Cowboys". www.foxsports.com.au. 22 June 2025.
  27. ^ "'Don't understand?': Dolphins dumbfounded as Woolf raises crucial sin bin question". www.foxsports.com.au. 9 August 2025.
  28. ^ "Alex Johnston misses NRL try-scoring record as Roosters reach finals, Warriors lose to Manly despite fastest-ever try". www.abc.net.au. 5 September 2025.
  29. ^ Dollin, Shawn. "Mark Nawaqanitawase - Playing Career - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 5 September 2025.
  30. ^ Dollin, Shawn. "Mark Nawaqanitawase - Playing Career - RLP". www.rugbyleagueproject.org. Archived from the original on 3 September 2025. Retrieved 28 October 2025.
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