Roosters go down but Nawaqanitawase magic breathes life into their season

September 13, 2026 — 8:06pm

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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........

© The Sydney Morning Herald