FIJIAN rugby league sensation Mark Nawaqanitawase will not be considered for this year’s RLIF Awards.
The Nalebaleba, Nadroga and Australian-Italian speedster has been snubbed of the Golden Boot award due to eligibility reasons.
The RLIF Awards are the Rugby League International Federation’s annual major international sporting award for the sport.
The International Rugby League changed the criteria for the award in 2018 to only considering performances in Test match and global tournaments, which leaves out those made during the NRL season and State of Origin.
Previously, it evaluated players across both club football and international fixtures.
Nawaqanitawase made a resounding mark this year in being the only player to feature in the Australian Kangaroos’ Ashes Test series, helping New South Wales win the State of Origin and bring the NRL trophy home for the Sydney Roosters.
The snub has drawn criticism from former Vodafone Fiji Bati captain Petero Civoniceva who pointed out “Marky Mark’s” brilliance as a beacon of attention for the sport this year.
“When you look at all the performances of players that have caught the attention of the rugby league world, he’s pretty much up there,” Civoniceva told Australian news agency AAP yesterday.
“He’s a player that’s excited fans week in, week out and it’s fantastic what he’s been able to do in a couple of years in his time in rugby league – and obviously this year was wonderful.”
Civoniceva has described Nawaqanitawase as a “once-in-a-generation” player and was a judge of the award for last year’s ceremony.
The AAP has described the rule changes for the Golden Boot award as “somewhat of a mockery.”
Meanwhile, the Fijian-Italian star switched codes to rugby union and taken up club rugby in Japan on a lucrative two-year contract with the Saitama Wild Knights.
He joins fellow Fijian and former Melbourne Storm winger Marika Koroibete there.
He shut down conversations of his allegiance for the 2027 Rugby World Cup to either Australia, Fiji or Italy due to his heritage by stating he was only focused on the move to Japan at present.
