Suaalii urges Wallabies to fast-track Nawaqanitawase ahead of World Cup on home soil

Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii has called on Wallabies coach Les Kiss to fast-track Mark Nawaqanitawase into the squad, insisting the NRL grand final hero’s arrival can only strengthen Australia’s prospects at next year’s home World Cup. Suaalii made the comments after Wallabies training in Sydney on Tuesday, days after his own positional shift to the wing in last week’s Bledisloe Cup I loss to the All Blacks in Auckland.

Nawaqanitawase capped a two-season stint in the NRL by scoring twice in the Sydney Roosters’ 19-18 grand final victory over Newcastle, cementing his status as one of the most talked-about talents in either code. The 26-year-old is also eligible to represent Italy and Fiji — through his grandmother and father respectively — meaning a potential allegiance switch cannot be entirely ruled out before he commits to the Wallabies long-term.

Suaalii, himself a code-hopper from rugby league, said he has no fear of the competition Nawaqanitawase would bring for a wing berth. “The more internal competition we have, the better our team’s going to be,” he said. “For Marky and Gussie to come across — Gussie coming to the Waratahs — he’ll be a great addition for us. Marky’s skill set, you’ve seen what he’s done over in NRL. Not many people have done what he’s done in the game for two years.”

Nawaqanitawase is due to join Japanese club Saitama Wild Knights after his Roosters contract expires on October 31, and said last month he intended to take a family holiday before linking up with his new side. “It’ll be my first time living out of home, so I just get my head around cooking for myself, working out how things work around the house,” he said.

Despite that commitment, Suaalii is hopeful Kiss can persuade Nawaqanitawase to join the four-Test November tour of the UK. Kiss has already confirmed he plans to speak with the winger, and Suaalii drew a parallel with how Jordan Petaia was brought over from Japan mid-season. “We brought Jordan over from Japan. He’s been a great addition for us as a group. You want your best players training, playing,” Suaalii said. “We’re one year to the World Cup now, so each game’s very important. But Les is the man who makes the call.”

Alongside Nawaqanitawase, Kiss is also weighing up a role for Angus Crichton — another Roosters premiership winner and a former Australian schoolboys centre — as the Wallabies look to reshape their backline for the tournament on home soil.