The one thing Nawaqanitawase must fix to dominate NRL
Trent Robinson is happy to wear the bruises of Mark Nawaqanitawase's topsy turvy rugby league initiation as he backed the former Wallabies winger to become a "dominant player" in the NRL.
In his first full season in the 13-man game, Nawaqanitawase has shown all the highlight reel attacking brilliance which has led to speculation Rugby Australia will attempt to lure the 24-year-old back ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The winger kicked off Sunday's clash with Canberra in style, scoring a try - his ninth in 10 NRL games this season - with an incredible aerial take over the top of Savelio Tamale.
But there were other shortcomings the Raiders exposed on their way to a 26-24 NRL win in which Nawaqanitawase - who has edged out England Test star Dominic Young for a starting berth - made a handful of costly mistakes.
The winger's handling under the high ball was heavily scrutinised and he took the wrong option at one point when he went down a short side and was bundled into touch by Tamale on the first tackle.
"He's such a good player and 12 games in, he's making a fair impact on the game," Robinson said.
"He's (made) two yardage errors there; his choice, they were both unforced.
"I feel like he can have a huge impact on the game just by cleaning up a bit of that backfield and then he'll become a dominant player in this competition."
Robinson said Nawaqanitawase was a fast learner who would adapt to catching under pressure "very quickly, because his technique is very good".
"Then I hope they keep kicking to him because he is such a good catcher, but they're unforced errors at the moment, and when he stops that, then he'll be one of the better wingers in the competition," Robinson said.
Nawaqanitawase's fortunes feel like a microcosm of the Roosters' season.
Robinson's men sit 12th (5-7) after narrow losses to ladder-leading Canterbury and second-placed Canberra over the last month.
"I know we've got a team that can play footy," Robinson said.
"I can see a team that's on its way to being really good, and we just need to finish off a little bit of learning from our game.
"We played three really good teams in three weeks after the bye - Canterbury, Cronulla, Canberra and I went, 'I'd be interested to see where we're at'.
"I think we're a good team. I just would like to have finished a couple of those games off a bit better."
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