Experienced Wallabies front-row Allan Alaalatoa is relishing the prospect of rugby league star Mark Nawaqanitawase making a big impact at Test level when he makes his imminent return to rugby union.
Nawaqanitawase finished his two-year stint in the 13-a-side code in style on Sunday when he scored a brace of tries in the Sydney Roosters’ thrilling 19-18 victory over the Newcastle Knights in the NRL grand final at the Accor Stadium in Sydney.
Finished a sensational rugby league stint
That means the 26-year-old winger completes a sensational rugby league stint in which he also won a State of Origin series with the New South Wales Blues earlier this year, represented Australia at international level and was named as the NRL’s Dally M Winger of the Year in 2025.
He is now set to return to rugby union where he will further his career with the Saitama Wild Knights in the Japan Rugby League One competition which gets underway in December.
Nawaqanitawase, who represented the Wallabies in 11 Tests between 2022 and 2023, will be hoping to win a recall to Australia’s squad ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup which will be held on home soil.
Alaalatoa is excited by Nawaqanitawase’s rugby union return and feels he will be a great addition to the 15-a-side code after his recent exploits in rugby league.
“He’s just been a freak. What he’s done in the last two years in league is probably unheard of,” Alaalatoa told reporters on Monday. “When you’re adding that type of player into the squad, it automatically lifts the group, especially the boys who are in your same position.
“He will just naturally start demanding more from other people because of the type of competition that’s in the squad, and that only adds health to the group.”
The Wallabies are fully focused on their upcoming Bledisloe Cup opener against the All Blacks at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday before the sides face off in the rematch at Sydney’s Accor Stadium on October 17.
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Les Kiss’ charges face a massive challenge against the men in black at the spiritual home of New Zealand rugby.
Australia have not tasted victory against New Zealand at Eden Park since 1986, and last won the Bledisloe Cup in 2002.
Set to face former Wallabies boss
There will be extra motivation for Australia to beat their hosts as their former boss Dave Rennie is now the All Blacks’ head coach. Rennie was sensationally axed from his position as Wallabies coach less than a year before the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.
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It will be a special reunion for Alaalatoa as he was one of the players who was appointed as the Wallabies’ captain under Rennie’s reign as head coach.
“He’s definitely got a lot of respect from a lot of the players in this environment,” said the 32-year-old tighthead prop who has represented the Wallabies in 94 Tests since his debut in 2016.
“He debuted a large number of the boys that are playing now, who now have 20,30-odd caps.
“But like every game, you put that aside for 80 minutes … and then you probably take a moment to share a beer with him after.”