NRL

He may be leaving the NRL, but Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase is going out in a blaze of glory.

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The rugby-bound star was brilliant all night as the Roosters comprehensively outplayed the Dolphins in the first preliminary final, winning 36-20 to reach the 2026 NRL grand final — their first since 2019.

Ably supported by returning Tricolours halfback Sam Walker, the latest freakish performance from Nawaqanitawase came in front of a packed Suncorp Stadium and began when he single-handedly, literally, changed the course of the game with a crucial intercept in the 17th minute.

With the scores locked at 0-0, Selwyn Cobbo looked certain to score out wide for the attacking Dolphins, but in a split-second decision Nawaqanitawase rushed up to instinctively snatch the final pass from Herbie Farnworth, running the length of the field to score and put the Roosters up 6-0.

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It was just the entree, mind you.

By full-time Nawaqanitawase had racked up 28 runs for the night, on his way to a remarkable 343 run metres according to official NRL stats, 80 of those metres post-contact.

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He also grabbed two tries, one ridiculous try assist to Robert Toia, four tackle busts and even snatched a second intercept in the dying minutes as the Dolphins scrambled for points.

Friday night’s try double takes Nawaqanitawase to 20 four-pointers for the 2026 season, meaning the 2025 Ken Irvine Medalist becomes only the second player in Roosters first-grade history — that’s 118 years — to reach 20 tries in consecutive seasons. The last time it happened? 1935-36.

After next weekend’s grand final against either Penrith or Newacstle, the 26-year-old will link with current Roosters assistant Michael Cheika in Super Rugby at the NSW Waratahs, with the ultimate goal a Wallabies jersey at the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

With apologies to incoming Sea Eagles recruit Reuben Garrick, how will the Chooks possibly replace him?

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