In the early hours of Monday morning, Mark Nawaqanitawase stood before a sea of adoring Sydney Roosters fans at Easts Bondi Junction and hoisted the Provan-Summons trophy above his head — but not before someone issued a very pointed warning: "Just don't drop it." The grand final hero obliged, and the celebrations were well and truly on.
The Roosters had just completed one of the most memorable grand finals in recent memory, defeating the Newcastle Knights 19-18 in a heart-stopping finish, with Nawaqanitawase the undeniable game changer on the night. The club made its way to the inner-eastern Sydney venue to share the moment with thousands of fans who had packed in to witness the premiership party.
Nawaqanitawase Delivers a Two-Try Grand Final Masterclass
The winger entered the night with an already remarkable NRL record, and he left it even more extraordinary. His two-try performance in the grand final brought his career tally to 47 tries in 47 games — a stunning strike rate that underlines just how rare a talent he is.
The Roosters had found themselves trailing 12-0 and, despite dominating in the statistics, were unable to find the scoreboard. It was Nawaqanitawase who broke the deadlock just before half-time in spectacular fashion — using both his left and right foot to soccer-kick the ball through traffic before regathering and grounding it. It was the kind of improvised brilliance that left commentators and fans scrambling for superlatives.
His second try in the second half was no less impressive. A trademark left-foot step created the space, before he completed the finish in the corner with a combination of pace, strength and acrobatics that made it look almost routine — even though it was anything but.
Coach Trent Robinson Hails an 'Extraordinary' Talent
Roosters coach Trent Robinson was effusive in his praise for the departing winger, struggling to recall a player who had made such a profound impact from the wing in recent NRL history.
"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."
Robinson acknowledged other great wingers in the club's history — noting what Brett Morris delivered during the 2019 premiership campaign — but suggested Nawaqanitawase had set a new benchmark for what the position could be.
"Mark has done things from the wing in touching the ball in so many different types and styles," Robinson said. "I hope he has created another generation of those types of players."
The coach also praised Nawaqanitawase's ability to make things happen when carrying the ball out of his own backfield — a dimension that set him apart from conventional wingers.
Captain Tedesco Thanks the Fans, While Star Prepares for Japan
Roosters captain and Clive Churchill medallist James Tedesco took a moment during the Bondi Junction celebrations to acknowledge the supporters who had backed the club throughout the season.
"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," Tedesco said.
The celebrations carry a bittersweet undercurrent, however. Nawaqanitawase — who had already represented Australia in both rugby union for the Wallabies and in rugby sevens before making his mark in the NRL — is departing for Japan to play rugby next year. The 26-year-old will leave having cemented a legacy that few players manage in just 47 games.
Robinson, for his part, is not writing off a return. The coach indicated he expects the winger to come back to rugby league at some point, leaving Roosters fans with at least something to dream about as the confetti settles on a famous premiership night in Bondi.
