Nawaqanitawase’s ineligibility opens the door for Roosters teammates Rob Toia, who played Origin football for Queensland this year after just 10 NRL games, and Hugo Savala to win the rookie award.
Other candidates in the running include Warriors back-rower Leka Halasima and Canberra flyer Savelio Tamale – who started the season on fire before succumbing to a knee injury – while Dragons duo Dylan Egan and Hamish Stewart and Raider Owen Pattie improve with every game.
Parramatta fullback Isaiah Iongi is certainly in the mix, as is late-season bloomer and Eels teammate Joash Papalii.
Eels coach Jason Ryles said of the pair: “They’re both highly talented, but their work ethic away from game day is what stands out for me with them. They’re both worthy recipients of the award, that’s for sure.”
Papalii has worn the No.1 jersey since Iongi was sidelined with a broken hand a fortnight ago, but is viewed as a future five-eighth. He is set to wear the No.6 when Iongi returns, which Ryles hopes is round 25 against Nawaqanitawase’s Roosters.
Past NRL rookie winners include Michael Vella (1999), Jarryd Hayne (2006), Israel Folau (2007), Daly Cherry-Evans (2011), Adam Reynolds (2012), Luke Brooks (2014), Payne Haas (2019), Sam Walker (2021), and Jack Bostock, the Dolphins winger who won last year after a two-match suspension meant Lachie Galvin was ineligible.
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