The No.1 reason Marky Mark is poised to lock in NRL return

October 11, 2026 — 5:00am

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Mark Nawaqanitawase’s management have been assured “fullback money” will be available to the superstar winger if he returns to the NRL and develops into a top-level No.1.

And if he doesn’t, he will still be able to count on about $1 million a season as the best-paid winger in rugby league.

We revealed last week there have been positive talks between the Roosters and Nawaqanitawase’s management about the star returning to league after his two-year rugby stint with Japanese side Saitama Wild Knights. A significant part of those discussions related to a possible change of position from wing to fullback.

We have also been told by the NRL that they are firmly of the belief that Nawaqanitawase will be back in the 13-man code in two years.

The Roosters believe he is worth much more than any other winger in the game. Nawaqanitawase’s management are interested in him filling the fullback role when Roosters champion James Tedesco retires. But the club is keen to get him back as the best-paid winger in the history of the game.

He won’t be short-changed if he suddenly becomes a world-class No.1. The view now is that Nawaqanitawase’s best position is as a winger, but given his incredible ability, they would never rule him out as a potential fullback.

“Mark is the best winger in the world right now,” Roosters chairman Nick Politis told this column. “We were blessed to have had Daniel Tupou, so we know the standard.

“We love Mark. We love his family. He will be paid like the best. We want him back, and we are confident he will come back.”

Still on Nawaqanitawase, four-time Roosters premiership-winning coach Trent Robinson has made the stunning admission that he had been confused as to how to coach the winger who has transformed the position forever.

Robinson says he has never seen a winger like Nawaqanitawase and admitted his impact on the Roosters has been similar to the one made by Sonny Bill Williams, who joined the club in 2013 and led them to a premiership.

Some judges even thought Nawaqanitawase deserved to win the Clive Churchill Medal as the man of the match in the Roosters’ 19-18 grand final win over the Knights last Sunday.

Reflecting on Nawaqanitawase’s two-try performance in the decider, Robinson said: “For Mark, it was normal for him to do that in the game, but the impact that he has on the wing has never........

© The Sydney Morning Herald