Bati coach eyes Roosters winger

Fiji Bati head coach Mick Potter is not giving up on Sydney Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase.

Potter told nrl.com that Nawaqanitawase would do more for rugby league and the World Cup if he played for Fiji instead of Australia.

The Nalebaleba, Navosa native has been linked to a short-term contract to keep him for the Rugby League World Cup which kicks off in October.

Asked by nrl.com if the Sydney Roosters flyer - was in a 40-man squad submitted by coaches to the Fiji National Rugby League board, Potter said:

“I’m pretty sure he would be- he’s not going to be number 41.”

The Bati will face Cook Islands on October 18 at McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle, in their opening RLWC match.

“I think he’d be way better to play for Fiji, wouldn’t he?” the 1991 Dally M winner told nrl.com.

“It would be just amazing if he elected to jump in with Fiji.

“He qualifies for us. If he elects to play for Australia., that’s his call. He’s going to rugby union next year.”

The father of the flashy flanker, Sevuloni Nawaqanitawase, moved from Fiji to Sydney the same year Potter won the Dally M, to play for Balmain.

Potter said: “But it would be just amazing if he played for Fiji. The players would be so overwhelmed with that and certainly the country would be as well.

Can you imagine the stardom? It would be just awesome and the welcome he would get if he did it. It would send it to another level if we went back to Fiji and he was there.

The floodgates of rugby league would open up over there. Nawaqanitawase was a member of the victorious NSW State of Origin team and last year toured England with the Kangaroos for the Ashes series.

He could play alongside the likes of Viliame Kikau, Api Koroisau, Sunia Turuva, Jahream Bula and Maika Sivo if he joins the Bati.

Fiji officials are currently gathering documentation the ensure Wests Tigers’ Samuela, Sione and Latu Fainu can play for the Bati in the World Cup.

With a 40-man squad - including Nawaqanitawase - submitted to the FNRL board, behind the scenes work has begun on returning the Bati to the semi-finals, where they played for three consecutive tournaments before bowing out in the quarters to New Zealand in 2022.

“There’s three players at Wests Tigers whose grandmother is Fijian- and that’s the Fainu boys,” said returning coach Mick Potter.

“We’re trying to get that over the line. They’re just trying to get the documentation right.

“Like I say, the grandmother’s Fijian but finding records of that is difficult. It seems to be common knowledge but nothing’s happened yet. I’m very hopeful. They’d be great players to be playing for Fiji.

“There was a young hooker as well, Josese Lanyon. He stepped in for Api Koroisau. He’s available, he’s in the squad.”

Meanwhile, FNRL board chair-man Rajesh Singh confirmed Potter will be arriving in the country on Friday.

Former Bati captain Kevin Naiqama, who still plays in the Newcastle competition, is set to be a member of Potter’s staff. Also expecting to join the coaching team are Wes Naiqama and Jarryd Hayne.