KIERSTEN DUKE: NRL must do whatever it can to lure Mark Nawaqanitawase back after his Rugby World Cup jaunt

The NRL cannot afford to sit back and watch Mark Nawaqanitawase disappear from the game for good.

The Roosters flyer is heading to Japan on a two-year deal worth as much as $3 million, a contract too lucrative and too strategically timed for anyone to realistically expect him to reject.

But the real reason he is jumping ship back to rugby is the chance to play in the Rugby World Cup on home soil next year.

But once that World Cup’s over the NRL should be doing everything in its power to bring him back, because players like Nawaqanitawase don’t come along very often.

In a short time, he transformed from a rugby union convert into one of the most exciting players in rugby league.

He delivered during his State of Origin debut, signalling he could be a mainstay of the team, and he could feature in the Rugby League World Cup for Australia later this year he is playing so well.

His aerial ability is unmatched and his athleticism is freakish. He has the rare ability to make fans sit up in their seats every time he touches the ball. In an era where sporting competitions battle endlessly for attention, genuine box-office stars are priceless.

Nobody should begrudge him for taking a life-changing deal in Japan or chasing the dream of representing Australia at a home Rugby World Cup. Opportunities like that don’t come around twice.

The NRL spends millions trying to grow its audience and create highlights to sell the game on social media. Nawaqanitawase does that whenever he steps onto the field.

His spectacular finishes and acrobatic catches have become a social media manager’s dream. He isn’t just a good player, he’s an entertainer.

That is why the competition cannot simply shrug its shoulders and accept that his departure is permanent.

The encouraging sign for league fans is that Nawaqanitawase himself has left the door wide open. While speaking about his future, he admitted a return to the NRL after pursuing his Rugby World Cup ambitions is “definitely on the cards.”

Those comments should be music to the ears of NRL executives. Rather than viewing Japan and the World Cup as the end of the story, they should see it as an intermission.

The reality is that Nawaqanitawase will return from rugby union as an even bigger name. A home World Cup will elevate his profile. Playing in Japan’s rapidly growing professional competition will expose him further and by the time 2028 arrives, he could be one of the most marketable athletes in Australian sport.

That is exactly why the NRL must begin laying the groundwork now.

Whether it’s the Roosters retaining a relationship with him or the NRL helping facilitate marquee player mechanisms, the message should be clear - there will always be a place for him in rugby league.

The Roosters certainly appear to understand that reality. Reports have consistently suggested the club would welcome him back if he chooses to return after his rugby commitments conclude. And why wouldn’t they?

The former Wallaby has already proven he can thrive in the NRL. Unlike many cross-code recruits who require years of development, Nawaqanitawase has been like a duck to water.

He became a genuine strike weapon and showed he possessed the instincts required to succeed in the fast-paced game of rugby league.

And with two new NRL teams by 2028 and possibly a third not long after, there will be several clubs vying for his services.The NRL often talks about competing with rival sports for elite athletes. Retaining and eventually re-signing players of Nawaqanitawase’s calibre is exactly what that battle looks like.

Nobody should begrudge him for taking a life-changing deal in Japan or chasing the dream of representing Australia at a home Rugby World Cup. Opportunities like that don’t come around twice.

But when the final whistle blows on that World Cup campaign, the NRL must be ready because Nawaqanitawase is exactly the kind of superstar rugby league should be fighting to get back.