Marky Mark making every moment count in run to the finish

Mark Nawaqanitawase knows his time in the NRL is quickly running out.

The Roosters winger will return to rugby union next season, leaving him with just a handful of NRL games remaining, and he is determined to make every one count.

The 26-year-old’s NRL career has been short but certainly not short of highlights.

In just two seasons, Nawaqanitawase has represented NSW twice, played three Tests for Australia, and finished as the NRL’s leading tryscorer in 2025 with 24 four-pointers.

Now, as he prepares for his second NRL finals campaign, there is an added emotion to every training session and every game.

“Simply just coming into training every day, I’m trying to soak it all up and enjoy every moment. I’m going to miss it," Nawaqanitawase said.

“The realisation that it’s gone quite fast, so just trying to enjoy every minute.”

But there is little time for sentiment when the Roosters’ premiership campaign is on the line.

After finishing fourth, Trent Robinson’s side will face Penrith in a qualifying final on Sunday at Commbank Stadium, with a win sending them straight through to a preliminary final.

For Nawaqanitawase, simply reaching September is no longer enough.

“A good feat to get to the finals, but it’s actually doing something in the finals, which is what I want to do this year,” he said.

And there could hardly be a tougher opening assignment.

Nawaqanitawase’s aerial ability has been one of his biggest weapons since switching codes but he knows gun playmaker Nathan Cleary will be launching all manner of high balls on Sunday.

“We need to be ready for anything he does,” he said.

“We do a little bit of study here and there, but on Sunday it could change and he could do something different.”

Nawaqnitawase will also have his hands full defensively, with Penrith’s Tom Jenkins - one of the competition’s most dangerous finishers, with 30 tries in one season so far.