Mark Nawaqanitawase is yet to set foot on a rugby union field as part of his two-year cross-code sojourn, but already the Roosters star has confirmed talks with club supremo Nick Politis on potentially returning to the club by mid-2028.

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The 25-year-old will depart the tricolours at season’s end, joining Japanese rugby union club Saitama Wild Knights in a deal which will also make him eligible to play for Australia in the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

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Politis told the Sydney Morning Herald “the club wants Mark back” following his brief rugby code swap, potentially as soon as midway through the 2028 playing season.

“We’ve told his manager that and we think in June 2028 we can see him at the Roosters again. Hopefully, by then he will be missing playing league,” Politis said.

Nawaqanitawase revealed on Monday that he had already held discussions with Politis, but remained non-committal on his next move.

“I love him, he’s a good man,” the high-profile winger told media in Blues camp on Monday.

“It’s the same as what I told him, it’s too far away to tell right now but always grateful to him and the Roosters for their love and support – continued love and support.

“We’ll see what happens, it’s a long time away.”

Nawaqanitawase has 11 rugby union caps for the Wallabies, but declared upon his signing earlier this year that he wants to walk away from the Roosters “with a premiership” at season’s end.

Failing that quest, the bigger lure for Marky Mark could in fact prove the State of Origin arena. Nawaqanitawase conceded that being part of Origin could ultimately play a role in swaying him back to league following the rugby sojourn.

At just 25, Nawaqanitawase has the potential to shoulder his way into the Blues side long-term in the wake of a resounding Origin debut in game two of this year’s series.

“Yeah, definitely,” Nawaqanitawase said of Origin luring him back to the NRL. “It always has been [a great concept], it has been part of my life for a while and to be here and feel it, it’s very enticing. But it’s a long way away. We’ll see.”

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MUNSTER ON TURNING AROUND ‘WORST ORIGIN SIDE IN HISTORY’

There is seemingly nothing more dangerous than a Queenslander with a point to prove. Just ask Maroons captain Cameron Munster.

The skipper credits a bit of luck and a lot of self-belief in being able to transform the current Queensland side from the “worst in history” to one on the verge of claiming a fourth series win in five years.

Speaking with media from the Maroons camp on Monday, Munster talked about the process of following former Queensland greats Cameron Smith, Cooper Cronk, Billy Slater and Johnathan Thurston in leading the side – and ultimately extending their Origin legacy.

“I think I got lucky in a way… you make your own luck but we went through a bit of a patch in 2018-2019, and then we got touted as the worst Origin team in 2020,” Munster said. “We’ve been lucky to get away with that one.

Arguably Queensland’s most dominant stretch in Origin – a remarkable 11 series wins in 12 years between 2006 and 2017 – occurred largely before Munster’s time.

Never one to shy away from a hard question, Munster revealed it was the belief instilled in the playing group by some of Queensland’s best exports that has led to the continued dominance.

“We’ve had some really good players coming through that have really bled for the jersey: Smithy, Coops, Billy and JT,” he said.

“They’ve been great to the game, and they’ve poured their blood out for the jersey. They instilled the belief and confidence in us that we can go out there and be like them.”

Munster makes his 24th appearance for Queensland on Wednesday, and is plotting his sixth series win.