Dual-code international Mark Nawaqanitawase has secured a lucrative two-year deal worth more than $2 million with a Division One Japanese rugby club, turning down strong interest from France in the process according to reports at The Sydney Morning Herald.
The 24-year-old will see out the remainder of the NRL season with the Sydney Roosters before departing for Japan ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup on home soil.
The Roosters have left the door open to a potential return once Nawaqanitawase’s Japanese contract expires, keeping alive hopes of a future comeback to the NRL.
Nawaqanitawase’s market value has surged following a breakout first season in rugby league, where his athleticism, finishing ability and aerial dominance translated seamlessly to the 13-man code.
Despite his rapid rise in the NRL, the former NSW Waratahs winger had long planned a stint overseas, having previously spent four seasons in Super Rugby.
His profile climbed even further after finishing last season as the NRL’s leading try-scorer, cementing his status as one of the competition’s most damaging outside backs.
Mark Nawaqanitawase
Japan has become an increasingly attractive destination for elite talent, with global stars lured by lucrative contracts and flexible international pathways.
Nawaqanitawase informed the Roosters in September of his intention to depart at the end of 2026 as part of a broader plan centred on World Cup ambitions.
For the NRL, losing a player of Nawaqanitawase’s calibre after just one full season is a blow, though there is strong optimism he will return once the World Cup cycle passes.
While the Roosters have aggressively targeted cross-code talent in recent years, they have also been among the clubs most impacted by rugby union poaching.
In successive seasons, Joseph Manu, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii and now Nawaqanitawase have all departed Bondi to switch codes, leaving a significant void in the club’s backline.
Bringing any of those stars back to the tri-colours would represent a major coup, and it remains a long-term focus for the Roosters as they look to reclaim lost strike power in the near future.
Mark Barnes
Mark Barnes is a contributing Wires Writer at The Sporting News based in Australia. He has covered rugby league, basketball, music and film for more than 20 years. He is also an avid fantasy sports fan and content producer who is the founder and host of the long running NRL Allstars Podcast (Follow on YouTube, iTunes, Spotify or X)
