AAP: CODE-hopper Mark Nawaqanitawase has brushed off concerns about his ability to handle the centre position at the Sydney Roosters.
Mark Nawaqanitawase is bullish about his prospects of filling the void left by Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii at the Sydney Roosters as he adapts to one of, if not the most, challenging defensive positions in rugby league.
Known almost exclusively as a winger or fullback in rugby union, Nawaqanitawase was named to start at centre in Sunday’s trial match with St George Illawarra.
He also spent time at fullback in the second half but is no chance of usurping captain James Tedesco for the No.1 jersey.
Highly rated youngster Robert Toia is shaping as Trent Robinson’s right centre replacement for Joey Manu, while former Wallaby Nawaqanitawase looks set to fill in at left centre.
Robinson said Nawaqanitawase “could play wing (in the NRL) tomorrow and he’d be fine”.
But the Roosters coach is keen to take a greater risk by deploying Nawaqanitawase in the centres, where understanding the game’s defensive nuances is paramount to ensure the winger is not exposed.
“Robbo is a big defensive guy, that’s what we build on here at the Roosters,” Nawaqanitawase said.
“I’ve had the whole pre-season to get a lot of reps at that position, so I feel like I’ve come out of the pre-season with a lot of confidence in terms of the decision-making and the contact that the centre position will bring.
“We work on our own footage from training and where there’s mistakes we’ve made or things we’ve done well.
“The main focus is on yourself, rather than trying to emulate someone. There’s been past players – Manu, Suaalii – they’ve done it, so if I did ever need to I’d go back there (and look at what they did).”
Sunday’s trial was only Nawaqanitawase’s fifth professional game of league since switching from rugby union, playing one NRL match and three more at NSW Cup level.
With back-rower Angus Crichton and winger Daniel Tupou mainstays of the Roosters’ left edge, Nawaqanitawase will be surrounded by some old pros as he adjusts to life as a league player.
An increase in grappling sessions also helped the 24-year-old handle the intricacies of the NRL’s wrestle-like defence.
“Obviously there’s going to be a lot more attack coming my way,” Nawaqanitawase said.
“(Grappling) is pretty much every day, and the contact.
“Some of the smaller guys – Nat Butcher, Connor Watson – you can tell they’ve been doing it for a while with the strength they have.
“And when I get cooked, they know just how to take advantage of it.”
The 11-cap Wallaby revealed he had a new-found respect for Tedesco after his brief cameo at fullback.
“He’s worth every penny – it’s a different position, fullback, and it’s a credit to him to be able to do that. They (fullbacks) are different beasts,” Nawaqanitawase said.
Robinson is expected to roll out the rest of his big names such as Tedesco, Lindsay Collins and Tupou in Sunday’s trial against Newcastle in Gosford.
