Mark Nawaqanitawase is bullish about his prospects of filling the void left by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii on the Sydney Roosters as he adapts to one in all, if not essentially the most, difficult defensive positions in rugby league.
Identified virtually completely as a winger or full-back in rugby union, Nawaqanitawase was named to start out at centre in Sunday’s trial match with St George Illawarra.
He additionally frolicked at full-back within the second half however is not any likelihood of usurping captain James Tedesco for the primary jersey.
Extremely rated teen Robert Toia is shaping as Trent Robinson’s proper centre substitute for Joey Manu, whereas former Wallaby Nawaqanitawase appears to be like set to fill in at left centre.
Robinson stated Nawaqanitawase “may play wing [in the NRL] tomorrow and he’d be wonderful”.
However the Roosters coach is eager to take a higher danger by deploying Nawaqanitawase within the centres, the place understanding the sport’s defensive nuances is paramount to make sure the winger just isn’t uncovered.
“Robbo is an enormous defensive man. That is what we construct on right here on the Roosters,” Nawaqanitawase stated.
“I’ve had the entire pre-season to get plenty of reps at that place, so I really feel like I’ve come out of the pre-season with plenty of confidence by way of the decision-making and the contact that the centre place will carry.
“We work on our personal footage from coaching and the place there’s errors we have made or issues we have completed nicely.
“The principle focus is on your self, quite than making an attempt to emulate somebody. There’s been previous gamers — Manu, Suaalii — they’ve completed it, so if I did ever must I would return there [and look at what they did].”
Mark Nawaqanitawase flies for a strive in his lone NRL sport to this point. (Getty Photographs: Matt King)
Sunday’s trial was solely Nawaqanitawase’s fifth skilled sport of league since switching from rugby union, taking part in one NRL match and three extra at NSW Cup stage.
With back-rower Angus Crichton and winger Daniel Tupou mainstays of the Roosters’ left edge, Nawaqanitawase will probably be surrounded by some previous professionals as he adjusts to life as a league participant.
A rise in grappling classes additionally helped the 24-year-old deal with the intricacies of the NRL’s wrestle-like defence.
“Clearly there’s going to be much more assault coming my method,” Nawaqanitawase stated.
“[Grappling] is just about every single day, and the contact.
“A number of the smaller guys — Nat Butcher, Connor Watson — you’ll be able to inform they have been doing it for some time with the power they’ve.
“And after I get cooked, they know simply easy methods to reap the benefits of it.”
The 11-cap Wallaby revealed he had a new-found respect for Tedesco after his temporary cameo at fullback.
“He is value each penny. It is a completely different place, fullback, and it is a credit score to him to have the ability to try this. They (fullbacks) are completely different beasts,” Nawaqanitawase stated.
Robinson is anticipated to roll out the remainder of his massive names resembling Tedesco, Lindsay Collins and Tupou in Sunday’s trial towards Newcastle in Gosford.
AAP
