The NRL is considering a unique contract proposal that could see Mark Nawaqanitawase represent Australia at this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Code Sports reports the dual-code star is at the centre of a cross-code tug-of-war, with the Kangaroos and Wallabies both in the mix to secure his services at the end of the year on the international stage.
The Sydney Roosters winger is set to return to rugby union after the 2026 NRL season, having signed a lucrative contract with Japanese club Saitama Wild Knights.
Nawaqanitawase is expected to be in contention for the Wallabies’ four-Test tour of Europe, but his contract is with Saitama rather than Rugby Australia.
Instead, the NRL is exploring a special two-week training contract that would allow the 25-year-old to remain in rugby league long enough to feature in the Rugby League World Cup on home soil.
Current NRL player contracts expire on October 31, while Australia’s Rugby League World Cup campaign Down Under gets underway on October 15. The final will be played on November 15 in Brisbane.
The Wallabies, meanwhile, open their European tour against England at Twickenham on November 8.
Nawaqanitawase made his Kangaroos debut during last year’s Ashes tour of England.
“Mark is a big-game player and wants to be in the big games,” Australia coach Kevin Walters said.
“If he was available, we’d obviously pick him – 100 per cent – given what he did last year on the Kangaroo tour and his form in the Origin series. No doubt he’ll also rip through the finals with the Roosters.
“He’s certainly in our plans. You want your best players playing in a World Cup and he’s shown he’s in that category.”
Meanwhile, Payne Haas has committed to Samoa for the Rugby League World Cup after speculation emerged that the star forward was considering switching his allegiance back to Australia.