Grand final hero Mark Nawaqanitawase’s sure hands were put to good use in the early hours of this morning as the Roosters star lifted the Provan-Summons trophy to adoring fans.
Nawaqanitawase, who was the game changer in the Roosters’ thrilling 19-18 victory over the Knights, was told “just don’t drop it” moments before he hoisted the trophy in the air to fans at Easts Bondi Junction.
“Thank you every single one of you for supporting us all year, whether it’s at home or away, or out at Homebush you guys turned up, supported us all year, so I can’t thank you enough, let’s celebrate well,” Roosters captain and Clive Churchill medallist James Tedesco said.
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Roosters coach Trent Robinson lifted the lid on the generational talent of premiership-winning Nawaqanitawase and expects the rugby-bound winger to return to the code.
Nawaqanitwase’s two-try display took his tally to 47 in 47 games ahead of his return to rugby in Japan.
His previous displays for the Wallabies and Australia in rugby sevens had already proven his unique skill set and capacity for the marvellous.
The 26-year-old has since shone like a supernova and taken his feats to greater heights in the NRL, with Robinson struggling to think of a winger who had made such an impact on the code.
“There have been some amazing wingers that have. What Brett Morris did for us in 2019 was a memorable performance,” he said.
“Mark has done things from the wing in touching the ball in so many different types and styles, I hope he has created another generation of those types of players.”
On the cusp of half-time in the grand final, his left and right-foot soccer skills, before regathering to score, got the Roosters on the board when they were trailing 12-0 after dominating in every statistic.
His second-half try in the corner, after a trademark left-foot step, was made to look easy when it required an inch-perfect finish with speed, acrobatics and strength.
“It’s extraordinary watching him play the game,” Robinson said.
“When other people get the ball in the same situation you kind of know what is going to happen, but when Mark gets it there is this energy that he can do something — always. He believes he can do it always.
“Not only does he do it with skill, he does it carrying it out of the backfield.”
ABC/AAP
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