Marky Mark has set the NRL alight. But he’ll still have to earn Wallabies spot

Wallabies coach Les Kiss has questioned the severity of a four-game ban imposed on centre Hunter Paisami, while stressing in-form Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase and rugby-bound teammate Angus Crichton will have to earn their spots in the Wallabies’ World Cup squad next year.

Nawaqanitawase and Crichton both finish up in the NRL in Sunday’s grand final against Newcastle before switching to rugby for a crack at playing in the 2027 World Cup, which is being played in Australia.

Crichton begins his contract with the Waratahs and Rugby Australia next month but, pending an early release from the Roosters, he may even be rushed into the Australia A squad for a two-game tour of the US later in October.

Nawaqanitawase is joining Japanese side Panasonic Saitama Wild Knights, and it is not known whether he will make himself available for the Wallabies’ spring tour of Europe in November.

Kiss was speaking at a “one-year-to-go” event at Circular Quay on Friday morning, just a short walk from the NRL grand final fan fest at Martin Place, where Nawaqanitawase and Crichton were being feted by supporters.

Roosters fans, and the NRL world in general, have been blown away by Nawaqanitawase’s stint in league, in which the 11-Test Wallaby scored 43 tries in 45 games – many of which showcased eye-popping skill – won a State of Origin series with NSW and played for Australia. The dual international has even been included in debates about the greatest NRL wingers.

Kiss, himself a former Kangaroos winger, said the praise for Nawaqanitawase is justified, but maintained it would not guarantee him a spot back in the Wallabies.

“He’s doing a great job there in the rugby league game, and we’re right to be very excited about what he can do when he comes back into rugby,” Kiss said.

“But for every player I’ve talked to, there are no promises and no guarantees. You’ve got to earn everything and that’s [the] baseline for everyone. Even the players that everyone says are nailed on, I know they’re driven now, just to make sure they don’t drop their guard.

“Guys like Angus and Mark Nawaqanitawase have got to come in and do the work, that’s for sure.”

Kiss had more immediate concerns about selection this week, ahead of the opening Bledisloe Cup game in Auckland next week.

Kiss named a squad on Wednesday which included several players carrying an asterisk, due to injury or, in the case of Paisami, a pending judiciary outcome. That didn’t take long to resolve, however, with Paisami handed a four-game suspension for a dangerous high tackle on South Africa’s Sasha Feinberg-Mngomezulu on Sunday.

Deemed a mid-range offence, the penalty began at six weeks, before two weeks were knocked off for remorse and other mitigating factors. Paisami wasn’t eligible for a 50 per cent discount via “tackle school”, given he used that once-in-a-career card last year.

Asked about the severity of Paisami’s ban, Kiss said: “I’ll be careful what I say because I might get fined, but four weeks – I thought it could have been a little bit less than that, for sure.

“We’ve got two Bledisloe games and some other games that we can put that [suspension] into play, but ultimately, he’s out and we’ll have to deal with that.”

Paisami may be able to use the Australia A tour to serve two more matches of the ban, leaving him free for the Nations Cup clash against England on November 8.

Fullback Jock Campbell was called into the Bledisloe Cup squad, but Kiss said the likely candidates to replace Paisami would be Isaac Henry, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Filipo Daugunu and Jordy Petaia.

Ikitau has “bone bruising” and is a 50-50 to play at Eden Park, he said. Key lock Josh Canham, who missed the Boks’ Test with a hamstring injury, was also named but is even less likely.

Kiss said there was plenty to take from the Wallabies’ incredible win over the Boks in Perth, both from a strong opening 60 minutes and the “fight and care” shown by the players to still win when reduced to 11 players in the last ten minutes.

After conceding two yellows for high tackles, and perhaps escaping on another from Tom Hooper that could have seen the Wallabies down to 10 men, Kiss said working on tackle height would be a work-on to ensure they don’t dig a similar yellow hole in the future.

New Zealand are currently on a three-match losing streak – and haven’t lost four in a row since 1998. But heading to a venue where the Wallabies haven’t won since 1986, Kiss said the side would not get carried away with the feats of Perth.

“They are unbeaten there in 52 Tests at Eden Park, so it’s going to be a formidable challenge,” he said.

Rugby World Cup organisers announced on Thursday they have sold 1.3 million tickets.

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