Source :- THE AGE NEWS
The love for Roosters grand final hero Mark Nawaqanitawase on his way out of the NRL is both surprising and huge – and in contrast to the tense circumstances around his possible Wallabies return.
Onlookers contacted me to report NRL boss Peter V’landys had bumped into Nawaqanitawase at the Kangaroos-Kiwis World Cup clash at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night and had been very vocal about his desire to bring the winger back to the code after his two-season stint at Japanese rugby club Panasonic Saitama Wild Knights.
He declared his “Marky Mark” man crush and praised his character and abilities on the field.
“Mark is an exceptionally exciting player and more importantly he is one of the nicest and most genuine I’ve people met,” V’landys told me.
“Yes, I did tell him I want him back … I don’t want him leaving. I would do anything to do have Mark back. I’m so surprised that the RA [Rugby Australia] has not rolled out the red carpet to get this once-in-a-generation player back in the Wallaby team.”
Nawaqanitawase confirmed this week he has not yet decided on his international allegiance after it was reported he was considering playing for Fiji or Italy rather than Australia at next year’s Rugby World Cup.
“I just thought I would jump on here as there has been a lot of speculation on my future,” the 26-year-old winger wrote on Instagram.
“My only focus right now is moving to Japan in a couple of weeks and connecting with my new team … I will weigh up my options and make a decision next year on my international future. Love Marky.”
Even the most high-profile voice in rugby league, Phil Gould – who normally takes the “don’t let the door hit you on the backside” view when players walk out on the code – would love to see Nawaqanitawase back in the game.
“His talent is extraordinary,” Gould said. “I will miss him in league and I genuinely hope he returns because I’ve never seen a better skill set than what he has.”
Get well soon, Anthony
Anthony Maroon is the most entertaining rugby league commentator we have – but in a scary moment, the star Triple M caller was rushed to hospital after having a heart attack this week.
Fortunately, he is recovering after having a stent put in his heart.
Maroon was due to call the World Cup opener for Triple M on Thursday night, and it was a surprise to hear Emma Lawrence doing the duties instead. Maroon brings a life and humour to his work that is unmatched in the game. He’s also an extremely fit and health-conscious individual and at 60 years of age, his heart attack has shocked his supporters and close friends. Maroon is back home and in good spirits, and hopefully will be back on the airwaves very soon.
Eels D-day looms for Foxx
Parramatta winger Josh Addo-Carr is out of a rehabilitation clinic and awaiting the result of his “B sample” after he allegedly returned a positive result for cocaine when stopped for random testing last month in Sydney’s Inner West.
It was the second time Addo-Carr has been embroiled in a drugs drama after the representative winger provided a positive roadside test while at Canterbury which led to his axing by the club.
The Eels threw Addo-Carr a lifeline, and he earned a contract renewal until the end of 2027.
The club will make a call soon on what do next. Addo-Carr’s management has pleaded with Parramatta not to sack him. He is loved by his teammates and Eels fans, but it’s not a straightforward decision.
The Eels are trying to balance player welfare with the need to maintain club standards. Addo-Carr’s sacking by the Bulldogs was in large part due to misleading officials at the club.
Addo-Carr is facing a ban of 12 matches for a second offence, in line with the NRL’s illicit drugs policy, which would rule him out for virtually half of next season.
Chief concern
The PNG Chiefs have a solution to their naming rights court case – they will never play in New Zealand should they lose the matter. And that stance has the backing of the NRL.
The PNG Chiefs and the NRL enjoyed a victory in court on Friday, with a judge turning down a bid by New Zealand Rugby for an urgent injunction after hearing that it could harm the expansion team’s efforts to attract players ahead of its debut in 2028.
NZ Rugby headed to court ahead of the launch of the PNG team’s logo and jersey in Port Moresby next week, warning the brand value of rugby’s long-established Chiefs franchise would be “hugely damaged” by the NRL team’s use of the same name and the confusion that would arise as a result.
However, New Zealand’s High Court rejected its injunction application and the dispute will be back in court early next year. The NRL could still be forced to change the Chiefs’ name if its loses.
“They would have to re-brand and say, ‘Sorry, we probably shouldn’t have called ourselves the PNG Chiefs’,” Justice Karen Grau said.
The PNG Chiefs view the legal challenge as frivolous.
It’s a big week for the Chiefs, with their coach Willie Peters in Port Moresby now and seeing the club’s set-up for the first time. Stay tuned for big announcements around their logo and jersey.
Storm want Bellamy to stay
The Melbourne Storm are more than comfortable with coach Craig Bellamy’s decision to stay on for one final season next year, but they would still like him to be part of the club beyond 2027.
The Storm are hoping Bellamy will stay on in a coaching director role to help the club transition into its next phase.
It’s a smart move given Bellamy’s enormous influence over the Storm in the last two decades. It may also allow the club to make an internal appointment if, as expected, Billy Slater is unavailable to take over from Bellamy.
The Storm would prefer to sort out their coaching situation for 2028 in the next couple of months so it does not become a distracting factor next year.
There are a few better-run clubs than Melbourne, and they understand the value of stability from the top down.
They realise it is a time of huge change, on and off the field.
Foot of the mountain
Panthers hooker Mitch Kenny leaves for Tanzania on Sunday having received clearance from his club to climb Mount Kilimanjaro.
It’s not your typical NRL off-season jaunt, but Kenny, an avid birdwatcher, is a different character. He has fully recovered from a broken leg that sidelined him for much of the season and is ready for the 5895m challenge Mount Kilimanjaro will present.
“I’m excited,” he said. “Altitude is obviously going to be a challenge, but I’m hoping to summit.”
Meanwhile, the Rugby League Players Association is doing a charity trek on the Kokoda Trail. The “Trek for Healing” started on Friday. They are hoping to raise $250,000 for the Australian Childhood Foundation, a charity for children who have experienced the trauma of abuse.
Bunny money
Cody Walker and South Sydney are edging towards common ground in discussions over a new contract, which should see one of the club’s favourites stay put.
Walker has three offers on the table, including some big money from overseas.
We’ve always thought somewhere about $450,000 a year is fair for Walker and could almost get the deal done for one more year at the Rabbitohs.
Walker stands to cash in
Sam Walker could cap the biggest month of his life with a $1.5 million-a-year deal with the Roosters and a debut for Australia.
The most successful night of Walker’s professional career – the 19-18 grand final win over the Knights – is still fresh in his mind, and he deserves to celebrate that. But now he is slated to make his debut for Australia against Fiji in the World Cup at Suncorp Stadium next Sunday.
In the background is a crucial meeting on Monday between his management and the Roosters.
Walker was scheduled for a catch-up with his agent Clinton Schifcofske on Saturday to talk about his future.
You may remember he made the mature decision to put things off until after the grand final. Walker made that call and led the way at a meeting which involved a number of Roosters heavyweights a few weeks ago.
Now, armed with a premiership, he has to decide on the Roosters offer.
It’s this column’s understanding that the Roosters will make a play near $1.25 million a year with a ratchet clause to allow for salary cap increases. That would mean the deal would be worth around the $1.5m mark a season.
Previously, we said Walker’s camp thought he’d be worth about $1.7m, so it will be interesting to see which side moves on the financial aspect of the deal.
What is not up for debate is that Walker is very much part of the Bondi community and has been a Roosters person since he was a kid. How much that counts for in negotiations remains to be seen.
Rivals have been hearing that Walker is interested in looking at the PNG Chiefs ahead of their entry into the NRL in 2028. However, the Chiefs’ preference has always been Nathan Cleary, with Titans rookie Zane Harrison the back-up.
If Walker’s interest is genuine in PNG, it has not been communicated to the Chiefs recently.
