Roosters go down but Nawaqanitawase magic breathes life into their season

Three years ago, Mark Nawaqanitawase’s finest moment at CommBank Stadium came for the Wallabies against Argentina.

Out on the wing and sensing a Pumas overlap, Nawaqanitawase backed himself, bolted out of the line, took an intercept and ran 95 metres to score in front of a sea of gold late in the match.

It should have been enough for victory. But the Wallabies, under Eddie Jones and just months out from their fateful 2023 World Cup campaign in France, went on to lose at the death.

Much like that Wallabies game, some more individual Nawaqanitawase magic wasn’t enough yesterday for the Roosters. But he and his mates from Bondi certainly breathed life back into their season despite a 19-12 defeat to Penrith.

Nawaqanitawase made a fresh case for his greatest individual moment on the CommBank Stadium turf on a day that ultimately belonged to Penrith.

His intercept, juggle and regather centimetres off the turf in the 24th minute – before sprinting 40 metres to score a try – was athleticism at its finest and gave the Roosters belief they could cause a boilover and beat the minor premiers in their own backyard (sort of).

A Nathan Cleary field goal and an ordinary Hugo Savala pass late in the match that went to ground, leading to Brian To’o’s match-winning try, were the difference in the best game of the weekend.

The Roosters, slight premiership favourites a few weeks ago and now staring down the barrell of five consecutive defeats, will have to do it the hard way from here.

Next week could be Nawaqanitawase’s last NRL match and the code will miss him dearly. There is always a degree of cynicism when someone from the 15-man game switches codes, but Nawaqanitawase’s first-half highlights reel was another reminder of his class.

His try-saving tackle on Tom Jenkins and another intercept with the Roosters camped on their own line were influential plays that underlined his brilliance.

Overall, this was a fabulous game of rugby league, featuring two quality teams who could well meet again on October 4.

This week’s Cleary judiciary drama is exactly what this NRL finals series needed.

Long before Penrith sewed up their victory their hopes of a headline-free week evaporated with a brain fade when Cleary hit Savala’s leg as he kicked on.

With 31 minutes remaining and scores locked at 12-12, Cleary returned to the field eager to make up for his error, trying not to think about the prospect of missing a finals football.

His other headache could be a potential lower-leg injury. It was abundantly clear when Cleary ran back after his field goal that he was not 100 per cent.

As far as the crowd went, it was an underwhelming turnout on week one of the finals.

In the upper south-western stand of CommBank Stadium, a grand total of five fans were present at the beginning of the match. If only the Penrith and Roosters fans who thought better of turning up could have predicted the tense tussle that followed.

With 28,152 showing up to watch Newcastle upset Souths at Allianz Stadium on Friday night and 17,429 rolling into the same venue for the Sharks and Cowboys 24 hours later and 22,148 for the Panthers-Roosters showdown, the NRL might need to consider cheaper tickets for these corresponding fixtures next year.

The thousands of empty seats at marquee games would have AFL head honchos chuckling away.

There was a bit of AFL about Liam Martin’s opening try as he leapt over Victor Radley and planted the ball down with great delight. Forwards aren’t supposed to move like that.

Spencer Leniu, fresh off his stoush with Souths enforcer Keaon Koloamatangi last week, took exception to Martin giving it to Savala after the Roosters playmaker missed a penalty on the stroke of half-time. Later, Leniu set his sights on Isaiah Papali’i. This game had plenty of spice.

It was two heavyweight Sydney clubs trading blows, both desperate for a week off.

One got its wish and the other will have to roll up its sleeves again next weekend. But with quiet confidence that halfback Sam Walker could return at some point this season from injury, the Roosters gave the competition reason to believe they can send Nawaqanitawase off a winner before he sails into the rugby sunset.

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Tom Decent is the chief sports writer for The Sydney Morning Herald.Connect via X or email.AdvertisementAdvertisement