Penrith faces Roosters with Nawaqanitawase test looming
Penrith braces for Roosters winger Mark Nawaqanitawase in Sunday's NRL finals match as his last before returning to rugby union.
Mark Nawaqanitawase will play his final NRL finals series before switching back to rugby union after two years in the league. The Roosters winger is one of the most unpredictable players in the competition, and Penrith's left side will be his target at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
The Panthers have kept him relatively quiet in previous 2026 meetings, but he poses a constant threat. Penrith's left has been one of the strongest in the NRL, with Casey McLean helping his winger Tom Jenkins to 30 tries this season.
The Panthers also conceded the fewest points to their left side of any team in the league. Casey McLean said the team takes pride in rising to the challenge.
Every week offers a chance to prove themselves.
- 1 scored, 1 try set up in 2025
- Nawaqanitawase tries vs Penrith
- 30 tries
- Jenkins tries in 2026
- Two years
- Nawaqanitawase's NRL stint
Why it mattersThe match outcome affects both teams' playoff positioning and Nawaqanitawase's final series adds narrative weight to the clash.
AustraliaThis NRL playoff game affects top-four positioning that Australian rugby league fans follow closely each season.
✓ Claims checked against the source and corrected before publish. checked 11 d ago
