An out-of-the blue phone call during his end of school studies might just have changed Mark Nawaqanitawase’s life.
Nawaqanitawase was finishing his HSC at St Pat’s, Strathfield, last year and received a phone call from Waratahs Gen Blue coach Shannon Fraser asking him to join the academy.
"It sarted back when I was finishing HSC, got a call from Shannon Fraser, the 20s coach here at the Waratahs, gave me a trial to enter the gen blue program," he said.
"Once that started in November last year went from here."
Until then, Nawaqanitawase had only seen rugby as a hobby, having not really featured in any major representative outfits.
Fast forward 12 months and Nawaqanitawase is one of the most recognised names from the Junior Wallabies’ campaign and someone Waratahs fans will be watching closely next year.
He burst onto the national scene as a winger but his background is as a fullback and from all reports, the 19-year-old has all the foot skills of a 15 as well as his clear strength on the edge.
Playing wing could certainly open the door for Nawaqanitawase next year, in a position that has plenty of contenders but no player that has really nailed down a spot since Taqele Naiyaravoro’s departure in 2018.
While he is quick not to try and pump himself up, Nawaqanitawase admits there’s a vacancy to be filled.
“I guess it's an area where they're not short but an area that could be filled so there's definitely an opportunity there so definitely looking to take it,” he said.
His first year as a senior player has been a whirlwind but it only whet his appetite to take the next step.
“Coming into a program where it's professional I think it made it easier for me to have a routine, come in every day go to the gym, it just made it easier to move forward,” he said.
“It’s definitely made me more excited about next year and hopefully trying to get a Waratahs debut.”
One person who has enjoyed Nawaqanitawase’s rise more than anyone is his mum, Fiona Tovehi.
Tovehi was a keen watcher of every one of Nawaqanitawase’s matches in 2019, including the Junior Wallabies’ run to a World Rugby U20s final in Argentina.
“She watched every game when I was in Argentina, getting up at like 3 o'clock, 4 o'clock just to watch,” he said.
“She's all over it, she's excited about it, it's pretty cool to think Mum's that proud of me to be doing what I am doing.
“She's over the moon but also shocked at how quick it's kind of gone.
“But she's just so happy for me because it's kind of what I want to do.”
Nawaqanitawase didn’t hesitate when asked what Tovehi might do should he earn a Waratahs debut in 2020.
“She'd probably cry, she'd cry. She'd be over the moon,” he said.
“Wherever it is, she'd organise a bus to bring the whole family, she'd be stoked.”
The Waratahs play their first preseason match on Friday January 17, in Dalby. For more information, click here.
