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Waratahs 2024

eastman

John Solomon (38)
Also he might not have been good enough to play any higher at the time. Marky Mark (Nawaqanitawase) is hardly a huge underdog story.
 

eastman

John Solomon (38)
Absolutely. The Wingers are specialists to make meters and score the try. The creative is on the 9,6,7,1 (13 at times) and the rest are to be in the right place at the right time for them to find you. Simple job but if you do it well they pay you well. You can just as fast be shown the door because there are 10 others like you in State Cup.

It's why when we talk about what League players could play Rugby it takes some assessment because we ask them to think more on the field and your actions have more consequences i.e. get isolated attempting to run around someone it will be a turnover. Doesn't happen in League.
More important than speed for a league winger is having the physicality to make 10 plus kick returns a match against a complete defensive line- being able to start a set from a positive first tackle is huge.
 

Wilson

Phil Kearns (64)
It's hard to see how Nawaqanitawase could be seen as someone missed or let down by the pathways - he played Aus under 20s and the tahs had invited him to train with them before he had finished school. If anything he's an example of the pathways succeeding in picking up a guy from outside the traditional schools.
 

Braveheart81

Will Genia (78)
Staff member
At the risk of banging-on about the pathways…

Mark N (Nawaqanitawase) (Nawaqanitawase) couldn’t get a gig in the mainstream Rugby Australia pathways, was always on the fringe, having gone to an unfashionable school.

A person clearly of immense talent, was playing NSW IIs from memory.
BPA was another example.

This is insane.

Nawaqanitawase was a starter in the under 20s team in 2019 and has been a full time professional player with the Waratahs from age 19.

He very clearly was identified as a talented player through the pathways system and received significant opportunities from it from an early age.
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Simon Poidevin (60)
My point is that you can’t blame him for not being a rugby diehard when he’s seen that you’re on your own. No loyalty or harm in trying out for NRL (ahem) ‘royalty’.

…and NSW IIs is indeed a high level, but you’re never getting picked for Aus schoolboys from there…He found his way up through his own efforts.
This point is also not correct. Starting for IIs is a higher place than being on the bench for for 1s in terms of Australian selection. It's exposure to game time rather than bench riding.

I also wouldn't blame NSW or RA selectors as his own association ISA picked him in the their 2nd XV.... Seems higher powers had their eyes on him regardless of where he was picked.
 

Hawko

Tony Shaw (54)
Without trying to shitcan one of my favourite players, it should also be pointed out that until he matured into the player he is about 18 months ago, he was an absolute nightmare defensively. In the year that the Tahs lost every game, all the other teams had to do was to run at him and a try was almost the guaranteed outcome. I don't know which defensive coach fixed him, but they should be given a special plaque on the training room wall.

My point is that Nawaqanitawase was pulled up through the pathways and kept on when some would have consigned him to subbies. Someone saw raw talent and persisted with him. Anyone looking to use him to denigrate the pathways has picked the worst possible example they could to do this.
 

KentwellCup>ShuteShield

Billy Sheehan (19)
This point is also not correct. Starting for IIs is a higher place than being on the bench for for 1s in terms of Australian selection. It's exposure to game time rather than bench riding.

I also wouldn't blame NSW or Rugby Australia selectors as his own association ISA picked him in the their 2nd XV.... Seems higher powers had their eyes on him regardless of where he was picked.
wow very overlooked. however i do remember ISA being quite strong in that period. Augs took a few GPS scalps.
 

Pass it to Dunning!

Bob Loudon (25)
As much as Nawaqanitawase developed into a great player in the past year and a half, he doesn't owe Australian rugby the rest of his career. He's developing into one of the best wingers in the world. If Australian Rugby aren't going to pay him what he deserves, he has every right to look elsewhere.
This isn't about Nawaqanitawase being greedy. It's about Australian Rugby (and the Tahs) being incompetent.
 

dru

David Wilson (68)
I don't know that it is simply about money, anymore. The Wallabies are a shit show and the RA rudderless. It isn't at all the sort of employer or environment that most of us would be happy to tolerate.

RA has plenty to do in order to simply provide any kind of recognition of the depth of the problem, let alone formulate a plan that makes sense to more than themselves.

For Nawaqanitawase, heading to NRL may just be same shit different smell, but I don't blame him for testing things. If an off shoot of that is simply adding pressure to negotiations I doubt he'll have a problem with it.
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Without trying to shitcan one of my favourite players, it should also be pointed out that until he matured into the player he is about 18 months ago, he was an absolute nightmare defensively. In the year that the Tahs lost every game, all the other teams had to do was to run at him and a try was almost the guaranteed outcome. I don't know which defensive coach fixed him, but they should be given a special plaque on the training room wall.

My point is that Nawaqanitawase was pulled up through the pathways and kept on when some would have consigned him to subbies. Someone saw raw talent and persisted with him. Anyone looking to use him to denigrate the pathways has picked the worst possible example they could to do this.
I would guess his contract was based on how shit he was a couple of years ago. he will get an upgrade and if he thinks he is worth more than what is offered, good luck to the guy.

I think the interesting spin is the option suggested is Sydney based, there were no comments about France or Japan, only a leading NRL side that doesn't need him
 

Agent

Billy Sheehan (19)
I would guess his contract was based on how shit he was a couple of years ago. he will get an upgrade and if he thinks he is worth more than what is offered, good luck to the guy.

I think the interesting spin is the option suggested is Sydney based, there were no comments about France or Japan, only a leading NRL side that doesn't need him

Correct, they don't really need him and can't really afford him. They are cutting players left right and centre to stay within the salary cap. Signing an untested, unproven winger (in terms of league) on big money probably not high on their list of priorities when there are other tried and proven players available.

It always amazes me how whenever someone is mentioned as thinking about changing clubs or codes they always seem to be 'linked to the Roosters' according to the media. It would be nice for the Roosters to come out one day and say "no we haven't spoken to player X and have no interest in signing them!"
 

The Ghost of Raelene

Simon Poidevin (60)
It's because it's believable. If they said he was in talks with the Tigers nobody would read it even though that would have been Marks junior area catchment.

They are also a team that isn't afraid to act quickly or see an opportunity. They acted pretty quick when they realised Cooper Cronk might be available and moved on their long term Halfback (Pearce). They also told Latrell no way when he gave them the price he wanted.

Crichton is still on the market. Wonder if anyone has had a second reach out??
 

fatprop

George Gregan (70)
Staff member
Scariest thing is Nawqa could demand a large pay packet considering the current market, with Suaalis contract. And we all know Rugby Australia is broke.
RA has a budget, any overs he is given means someone else may miss out, if it is a good negotiation both side will be grudgingly happy
 

upthereds#!

Peter Johnson (47)
We will get him on a long deal I reckon, up to next WC. Using a debt strategy, they'll spend well over the next coupl eyears securing talent, with a clear picture of the windfalls from 2025 AND 2027.

It's the old spend money to make money - but in this case it's borrow money to make money (or at least survive until you make money!)
 
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