Wallabies star backs NRL star return
NEWS: Wallabies superstar Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii wants Mark Nawaqanitawase on the spring tour and is welcoming the selection threat his fellow code-hopper will pose on his return to rugby.
Nawaqanitawase is the most talked about talent in either game after crowning his spectacular two-season stint in the NRL with a game-breaking two-try haul in the Sydney Roosters’ 19-18 grand final triumph over Newcastle.
Unless he opts for a shock allegiance switch to either lesser lights Italy or Fiji, who he is also eligible to play for through his grandmother and father respectively, the dual international shapes as a genuine rival to Suaalii for a Wallabies wing spot at next year’s World Cup in Australia.
First-year Wallabies coach Les Kiss shifted Suaalii from the centres for last week’s Bledisloe Cup I loss to the All Blacks in Auckland.
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As well as Nawaqanitawase, Kiss will be trying to find room in the Wallabies backline next year for fellow Roosters premiership winner and one-time Australian schoolboys centre Angus Crichton, an ex-teammate of Suaalii.
Rather than fear for his own spot, Suaalii says bring the challenge on and reckons having Nawaqanitawase and Crichton on deck can “100 per cent” only boost Australia’s World Cup chances.
“The more internal competition we have, the better our team’s going to be,” he said after Wallabies training in Sydney on Tuesday.
“For Marky and Gussie to come across, and Gussie coming to the Waratahs, he’ll be a great addition for us.
“Then also Marky’s skill set, you’ve seen what he’s done over in NRL. He was great. Not many people have done what he’s done in the game for two years.
“Watching him from afar, he did things that not many people can do. For him to come and bring that over here, it will be great for us.”
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Suaalii is so eager to have Nawaqanitawase in the Wallabies’ ranks that he hopes Kiss is able to convince the 26-year-old to change his mind and make the four-Test November tour of the UK.
Nawaqanitawase officially finishes his contract with the Roosters on October 31 to join the Saitama Wild Knights and said last month that he was committed to taking a holiday with family and friends before linking with his Japanese club.
“Having that respect just to start up a new club and find my feet there,” he said.
“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.”
Kiss said last week he planned to speak with Nawaqanitawase and Suaalii welcomed the prospect of the freakish talent being available ASAP for the Wallabies.
“You want your best players here,” Suaalii said.
“We brough Jordan (Petaia) over from Japan. He’s been a great addition for us as a group. You want your best players training, playing. Yeah, we’re one year to the World Cup now, so each game’s very important. We know what it does each week.
“But Les is the man who makes the call.”
Kiss’s more immediate call will be whether or not to make any changes to his side walloped 50-19 in Auckland, leaving the Wallabies to surrender the Bledisloe Cup for a 23rd straight year ahead of Saturday’s return bout in Sydney on Saturday night.
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