Waratahs outside back Mark Nawaqanitawse has expressed his desire to take the fullback jersey left by Jack Maddocks as they prepare for Super Rugby Pacific.
Maddocks' departure to French club Pau has left a vacancy at the back, having slotted into the position since the departure of Kurtley Beale.
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Having started his career mainly on the wing, Nawaqanitawse was shifted to fullback for their final match of the season against the Chiefs after a hand injury to Maddocks.
The 21-year-old admits he's using the pre-season to find the necessary fitness and consistency to ensure the switch is permanent come 2022.
“I do see myself sticking at fullback. I’m happy to do whatever is needed for the team but I want to lock down that 15 jersey,” Nawaqanitawase told Rugby.com.au
“I’ve been training at 15 for a bit now so it’s something next year I would like to hopefully lock down. That’s a challenge heading forward but I need to find some consistency and hopefully, it comes through.
“For myself, there was a couple of times at 15 that I tended to have some cramps so I need to improve my fitness. Obviously, it’s a bigger load at the back, especially at fullback so I’m just working on that to ensure I’m fit enough for an elite 15.”
He will be looking to impress new coach Darren Coleman, who has already floated the idea of moving Will Harrison or Ben Donaldson to the back as he attempts to sort out his abundance of playmakers.
Despite only being in his infancy in the role, his influence has already been felt by Nawaqanitawase and the Waratahs.
“He’s a good man. He’s not your typical coach, he doesn’t care what people say about him but he’s very good at what he does,” he said on Coleman.
“He loves his footy but at the same time, he knows when to have a laugh which is good for us getting to know him and not stressed about what he’s like.
“He definitely knows his stuff and it’s a credit to him and the teams he’s had in the past. I can see why they have done so well. He’s really pushing us and making sure we are doing whatever we can to love our footy and hopefully that can make those changes heading forward.”
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Whilst the club finished with a winless record at the end of Trans-Tasman, Nawaqanitawase was a shining light at the end of the season.
This was highlighted by a freakish catch and try against the Chiefs, leaping over Caleb Trask to score in the corner, with this experience against the Kiwis bolstering his confidence heading into Super Rugby Pacific.
“Personally, I think it’s always good to play them,” he believes. “When you watch the All Blacks now, you see the calibre of players that are coming from there so it’s always good to learn and pick up the things they are doing.
“I got a bit of confidence out of playing them. Taking those great players, you test yourself and see what you can do and if you can keep up with them and I got a bit of confidence out of playing them.
“There weren’t some great times but the boys still had a crack and definitely there was stuff we can take from that heading forward and hopefully it can change the way we go for the future.”
