Ex-Wallaby in line for Fiji call-up after Roosters debut

Former Wallabies star Mark Nawaqanitawase is set to make his NRL debut for Sydney Roosters and is line to play for Fiji in the upcoming Pacific Championships.

Nawaqanitawase, who represented Australian Rugby 7s team at the Paris Olympics, will play for the Roosters in Friday's night's Round 27 clash against South Sydney after just three NSW Cup appearances

He is then expected to be chosen in the Bati squad to play Papua New Guinea on October 19 and Cook Islands on October 26 in Pacific Bowl matches in Fiji.

The 23-year-old qualifies for Fiji through his father Sevuloni, who moved to Sydney in 1991 to play rugby league for Balmain.

After playing junior league for Concord-Burwood Wolves and Leichhardt Wanderers, Nawaqanitawase switched to rugby union in his teens and played 11 Tests for the Wallabies.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson, who confirmed Nawaqanitawase would make his NRL debut against the Rabbitohs, said he had caught his eye in rugby union while watching Max Jorgensen, whose father Peter played for the club. 

"I've been watching him for a while. I really like the way that he played," Robinson said.

"I've seen him play right and left wing, I've seen him play full back, I've seen him adapt to different situations and I like the way that he goes about his game.

"So, the next question was, how does that look when it gets on the field. And that's been really positive."

Initially Robinson didn't plan to play Nawaqanitawase at NRL level this season, but he has impressed in his three NSW Cup appearances, scoring two tries, making three line-breaks and averaging 173 running metres with the ball.

He will replace England Test winger Dom Young, who has a minor calf injury and is being rested for the finals.

“I feel like he’s played really well for the three games,” Robinson said. “His instincts have been really good and I’m looking forward to getting him out there tomorrow night.

“I’ve really liked what I’ve seen from him, and Dom wasn’t quite going to get there with a couple of niggles, so it was a good chance to get him in there and playing.

“You know someone’s football talent with the way that they move and run, but then you’re looking for their instincts when it comes to movements at the end of six tackles, how they’re going to move based on the kicker, how they’re going to adapt to the play the ball and all those things.

“He’s an intelligent guy who did his work before he got here and then he’s played really well in those games which gave me confidence to select him for this weekend.”

Kangaroos prop Lindsay Collins has been rested from the match against Souths, with 19-year-old De La Salle Va’a to complete a rapid rise this season by also making his NRL debut after starting the year in SG Ball.

Standing at 198cm tall and weighing 114kg, Va'a is eligible to play for the United States as he was born in American Samoa.

“He’s a front-rower, and when I say that, I mean it in the truest sense of the word,” Robinson said.

“He’s a true front-rower who knows the code that they play with, and he’s been doing that from a young age," Robinson said of Va'a, who is e

“He came down from Queensland, played Harold Matts and SG Ball, went to school down here, played SG Ball at the start of the year and now NRL at the end of the year.

“It’s a really good story but it’s only the start of his journey.”