Mark Nawaqanitawase would do more for rugby league and the World Cup if he played for Fiji instead of Australia, according to new Bati coach Mick Potter.<\/p>\n
Asked if the Sydney Roosters flyer – who has been linked a short-term contract keeping him in rugby league for RLWC2026 – was in a 40-man squad submitted by coaches to the Fiji National Rugby League board, Potter said: \u201cI\u2019m pretty sure he would be – he\u2019s not going to be number 41\u201d.<\/p>\n
Potter argued that the \u201cfloodgates\u201d of popularity for league in Fiji would be thrown open with ‘Marky Mark’ on board for the tournament opener against Cook Islands on October 18.<\/p>\n
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Marky Mark’s moment of magic claims try of the year<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019d be way better to play for Fiji, wouldn\u2019t he?\u201d said the 1991 Dally M winner. \u201cIt would be just amazing if he elected to jump in with Fiji.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe qualifies for us. If he elects to play for Australia., that\u2019s his call. He\u2019s going to rugby union next year.\u201d<\/p>\n
The father of the flashy flanker, Sevuloni Nawaqanitawase, moved from Fiji to Sydney the same year Potter won the Dally M, to play for Balmain.<\/p>\n
Potter continues: \u201cBut it would be just amazing if he played for Fiji. The players would be so overwhelmed with that and certainly the country would be as well.<\/p>\n
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Can you imagine the stardom? It would be just awesome and the welcome he would get if he did it.<\/p>\n
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“It would send it to another level if we went back to Fiji and he was there.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe floodgates of rugby league would open up over there.\u201d<\/p>\n
Nawaqanitawase was a member of the victorious NSW State of Origin team and last year toured England with the Kangaroos for the Ashes series.<\/p>\n
If he was to join Fiji at the World Cup Nawaqanitawase could play alongside the likes of Viliame Kikau, Api Koroisau, Sunia Turuva, Jahream Bula and Maika Sivo.<\/p>\n
The Fainu brothers, Latu, Samuela and Sione, who play for Wests Tigers, are also seeking eligibility clearances to represent their Fijian heritage.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The Bati will return to Fiji before the tournament but Potter will spend much more time there, saying his appointment – which runs until after the next World Cup – goes far beyond the senior men’s team.<\/p>\n
“They just approached me and asked me if I’d apply,” he said.<\/p>\n
“They want a holistic approach to rugby league, not just the Bati team. They want their kids playing sport. They want a holistic approach to having a healthy lifestyle across in Fiji – as well as being ambitious at the top end.”<\/p>\n