Will Mark Nawaqanitawase leave behind a legacy in the NRL?

The Roosters superstar scored a double in his side’s 19-18 grand final win on Sunday, capping off a stellar season for the talented winger that included an Origin series victory.

After joining the Roosters in 2024 and playing a single game, the 26-year-old quickly cemented his place as one of the game’s most exciting and dangerous players.

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However, he is set to depart for rugby union, signing a lucrative contract to play for Saitama Wild Knight in Japan.

For The Australian’s Brent Read, Nawaqanitawase hasn’t left a lasting influence on the game of rugby league during his short stint.

“He won’t leave a legacy, no,” Read said on NRL360 on Monday night.

“He won a comp, I suppose all of those players who played in that grand final and won a comp have some form of legacy with the club they are at.

“Doggy (Dean Ritchie) said he would ‘leave a legacy in rugby league’. I wouldn’t go that far, as I said, you can’t leave a legacy playing two seasons.”

However, The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie hit back with a big claim.

“Ready, you are being really insulting to him. He’s won an Origin decider, he’s won a premiership, he’s played for Australia,” Ritchie said.

“I think to say won’t leave a legacy, I think is greatly insulting to a bloke that probably had the biggest influence on yesterday’s game.

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“And I include James Tedesco, I think without him they don’t win that game.”

Previously, Read had revealed he believed that Nawaqanitawase would be forgotten by the NRL — but the Roosters certainly don’t agree.

Club supremo Nick Politis has reportedly already sat down with his manage to discuss a potential return after his union contract expires in 2028.

Then after the grand final, Read wrote in a Code Sports article: “In the lead-up to Sunday night’s grand final, this journalist had the temerity to suggest that rugby union-bound Nawaqanitawase would be quickly forgotten.

“His antics on Sunday night won’t be. He has been a matchwinner for the Roosters and it’s not often you can say that about a winger.”

Doubling down on the sentiment on Monday night by saying: “Well I’ve taken it back and said he wouldn’t be forgotten.

“When I said he would be quickly forgotten, that was over the top, I probably went a little bit too far.

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“But I still stand by, I don’t think you can leave a legacy when you only play two years in a game. I hope he comes back, the game is better when Marky Mark is playing rugby league.

“Mate he is unbelievable… take nothing away from Marky Mark, he is a genius. What he did in his two years in rugby league was phenomenal. But it’s two years.”

Meanwhile, league legend Gorden Tallis highlighted his ridiculous ability to find the line.

Even during his potential NRL farewell, the gun winger scored an impressive try, kicking the ball between his feet before regathering to score.

“I think what he has done in a short amount of time, the trick plays he comes up with week in, week out,” Tallis said.

“Those tries he has scored have been unbelievable.”