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The Sydney Roosters are entering a new era in the 2025 NRL season, after several of the club’s biggest names left the club, including Joseph Sua’ali’i, who switched codes to rugby union.
Trent Robinson will field a new-look backline in 2025 as he looks to replace Joseph Sua’ali’i and Joesph Manu, who both left the Sydney Roosters after their 2024 Preliminary Final defeat.
With club legends Luke Keary and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves also departing to move to Super League, the Roosters have been faced with a rebuild during the off-season.
The prolific Dom Young is a guaranteed starter on one wing and veteran fullback James Tedesco is nailed on in the number-one shirt. However, the rest of the Roosters’ backline is up for grabs, with several candidates vying for a place.
Speaking ahead of the new season, new Roosters signing, Chad Townsend has backed recent cross-code convert, Mark Nawaqanitawase to nail down a spot in the centres, after catching the eye in pre-season training.
Nawaqanitawase impressed on his debut for the Roosters last year, leaping high above the South Sydney Rabbitohs defence to score a try in his earlier-than-planned NRL debut.
The former rugby union and sevens star has predominantly played on the wing in his career to date. However, according to the experienced Townsend, Nawaqanitawase has impressed at centre in pre-season training and could be a surprise candidate for the position in 2025.
Speaking to SEN League, Townsend said: “Mark Nawaqanitawase has been incredible, so athletic. We all saw that try he scored at the back end of last year. He has spent some time in the centres.
“Young Robert Toia, who I know the club has some pretty big reps on, spent a lot of time there as well. He’s got elite footwork and speed and the ability to break tackles. You’re also chucking Billy Smith as well, and then Junior Pauga as well.
“We’ve got some younger guys and some guys obviously as you mentioned with the loss of those two experience in high-quality centres there’s some opportunity there for these guys to grab those positions.”
The Roosters’ 2024 season ended with a Preliminary Final defeat against Melbourne Storm, marking a changing of the guard in East Sydney.
The starting back five that day had Tedesco at fullback, Young and Daniel Tupou on the wings and Sua’ali’i in the centres as the Roosters were overpowered in the closing stages by a rampant Storm side.
Head coach, Trent Robinson will most likely start the season as he ended it, with Tedesco, Young and Tupou retaining their place. This leaves a choice between Smith, Nawaqanitawase, Toia and Pauga for the two centre spots.
Having signed with such fanfare, it seems inconceivable that Nawaqanitawase would miss out on the Roosters team, especially after impressing on debut last year. His athleticism and evasive running would make him the perfect foil for Dom Young.
Smith has found game time limited in recent years, as he has played understudy to Sua’ali’i and Manu. He looks set to get his chance to impress next season alongside the experiences Tupou but will face competition for his spot from Pagau and Toia.
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