If any other player in the league had taken an intercept in a finals game near halfway, juggled the ball several times, rolled forward and then sprinted away to score, we\u2019d be saying it was the craziest play of their career.<\/p>\n
But according to his Roosters teammates, what Mark Nawaqanitawase did against Penrith was par for the course for a guy who has produced an unrivalled highlight reel in his short time in the NRL.<\/p>\n
\u201cDefinitely not,\u201d centre Robert Toia replied when asked if it was the freakiest play he\u2019d seen. <\/p>\n
\u201cI think I\u2019ve seen him pull that off so many times. So although it made me freak out like everyone else, I\u2019ve had front-row seats to all this crazy stuff, so it\u2019s nothing new to me.\u201d<\/p>\n
Toia has the best seat in the house given he plays inside the wizard on the wing, with Nawaqanitawase dazzling crowds across the country.<\/p>\n
His tiptoeing effort down the sideline and acrobatic put-down against the Bulldogs last year would have made a tightrope walker proud, while his aerial feats belong in the NBA.<\/p>\n
While fans marvel at what they see, his teammates are so used to it by now that nothing shocks them. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s funny because we see it so much at training, it\u2019s just become the norm,\u201d edge forward Siua Wong said. <\/p>\n
\u201cSo it wasn\u2019t that freakish because I\u2019ve seen him do it before, but I can understand from an entertainment perspective how instinctive that play was.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe obviously plays a big role in our system, but because he\u2019s got those types of moments and plays in him as well, it just makes him so special.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo be honest, he pushes the limits every time, but he always comes back to knowing what his role is first for the team, and he picks his moments well.\u201d<\/p>\n
The former Wallaby \u2013 who will return to rugby at the end of the year \u2013 has also created some special tries with behind-the back flick passes that seem so easy when he does them.<\/p>\n
There was one against the Eels last year at full speed that led to a try, but that had nothing on his flick pass in round 19 against the same opposition when he had four defenders on him but still managed to hit his teammate on the chest for a try.<\/p>\n
Toia was the recipient of both of those passes and explained the role he had to play to be ready for the unexpected, with Nawaqanitawase to renew his rivalry with Sharks winger Ronaldo Mulitalo<\/a> on Saturday night.<\/p>\n \u201cYou don\u2019t know what he\u2019s going to do. We\u2019re kind of just trying to be in a position where he could get you the ball. I think that\u2019s just key,\u201d Toia said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s been an absolute joy (to play next to him). Definitely off the field, he\u2019s one of my great mates. He\u2019s such a character and one of the most genuine guys you\u2019ll meet. <\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s so full of energy, and it translates to his footy as well. He\u2019s able to express himself and do what he can do. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s obviously going to be an absolute joy the next few games. Hopefully, we can send him off on a good note. But for next year, it\u2019s going to be a sad day for the team losing a great bloke on the field and such a great bubble of joy off the field.\u201d<\/p>\n