The Sydney Roosters have exacted revenge on Rugby Australia for poaching Joseph Suaalii by signing one of the brightest young Wallabies, Mark Nawaqanitawase.
Nawaqanitawase has made 11 appearances for the Wallabies, including four at the 2023 Rugby World Cup and is poised to switch codes in 2025, when Suaalii is set to go the other way.
Suaalii’s defection to Rugby had reportedly angered the Roosters, who were keen to fire a shot back across the bowel at their cross-code rivals.
The timing of both deals will effectively make the signings a swap deal but SEN’s Matt White suggested both parties coming to an agreement on an early release could make sense.
“Look at this as a straight swap folks,” White said on SEN 1170 Mornings.
“They get a Wallabies winger, and they lose Joseph Suaalii to the Wallabies.
“Nawaqanitawase would sign for two seasons 2025 and 26, interestingly leaves the door open, under that deal to return to Union in time for the 2027 World Cup but would rule him out of the British and Irish Lions tour.”
The deals for both players would open them up to the possibility of playing for the Wallabies in the home World Cup in 2027 before potentially coming back to rugby league in 2028.
“So, let’s think about this, we say this quite often, there are many more things to go into it but what if there was a straight swap and you could do it straight away,” White added.
“What if Nawaqanitawase could come to the Roosters early and Suaalii goes to Rugby Union early?
“Suaalii gets some Super Rugby under his belt before he heads off to the Sprint Tour and Nawaqanitawase time there, either in or around the group to build his life as a rugby league player for the Roosters.
“It looks as though it’s going to happen at the end of the year, you don’t want to let players go that you’ve already got but if you’ve got a like-for-like replacement perhaps, who knows.”
Roosters’ management had previously indicated that they had no interest in releasing Suaalii early, despite his salary taking up close to $700k for the 2024 season.