Nawaqanitawase bows out of league with double in Roosters' grand final win

Mark Nawaqanitawase signed off from rugby league with two tries as the Sydney Roosters beat the Newcastle Knights to win the 2026 NRL grand final.

The 26-year-old winger — the wide man whose job is to finish attacking moves — struck in the 35th and 59th minutes. Centre Billy Smith added the Roosters’ other try in the 47th minute, according to the NRL’s match record NRL.com.

It was a perfect farewell. Nawaqanitawase, a former Wallaby, will now return to rugby union after completing his league career with a premiership, the NRL’s name for its title The Guardian.

The numbers tell the story of a short, sharp stint. He scored 47 tries in 47 NRL matches. Seven of those came in his last four games. Along the way he earned State of Origin honours — league’s fiercely contested annual series between New South Wales and Queensland — and selection for the Kangaroos, Australia’s national league side.

His form going into the decider was red hot. He had scored five tries in his previous three matches. Then came the preliminary final against the Dolphins, when he crossed twice and carried the ball for 329 run metres to drag the Roosters to the grand final NRL.com.

Roosters coach Trent Robinson trusted him for the big stage. He delivered again.

Next stop is Japan. Nawaqanitawase has signed a two-year contract with Saitama, the Saitama Wild Knights of Japan’s League One union competition. He admitted after the final that it felt “sad” to leave the NRL just as he had helped the Roosters to glory 7NEWS.

What makes this stand out is the neatness of the circle. He arrived from union as a Wallaby winger with questions to answer in a different code, with its six-tackle sets and no rucks or lineouts. He leaves as a premiership winner, an Origin and Test player, and one of the most reliable finishers in the game.