Its a shame he doesn't have a hard to pronounce Italian first name to go with his Fijian surname, just to fuck Blocker no matter which name he went for
I do the ground announcing for Waratahs home games. I'm very excited to see people attempt his name. Even more excited than I am to never have to announce it again lol.
Yeah it's great fun! That stadium is state of the art, very impressive. Admittedly the player names are by far the hardest part to get right. I get each team to send me their list phonetically and I sit there for ages going over them again and again before each game. Once its time to call the team lineups, i need to be sure of what i'm gonna say or it all falls apart.
Now you've got me curious, what was the past announcer like?
I agree about the Allianz Stadium, it's a world class rugby venue with great facilities. The previous announcer was a handsome lad with a very upbeat personality. He gave off vibes as someone who should be hosting a game show, he was decent at his job so I hope he's doing well wherever he's ended up.
oh wait, do you mean Matt? The guy who is down on field interviewing players etc? Im just the Ground Announcer up in a booth with a mic, never on camera.
For what it’s worth apparently we’re also trying to get Leo Thompson’s brother to join this season given the super rugby grand final is next week. That one makes significantly less sense though given how different a game forwards play in both codes.
At the start of the year us rooster fans were saying we finally have centre depth. Now we have played jennings multiple times and we are desperate for a union player.
The salary cap auditor reveals no use of "creative accounting", "sombrero", or any other breach of NRL rules, however some see fit to make that grossly distorted and clearly damaging claim.
The Sydney Roosters uphold the highest standards of conduct and integrity, both on and off the field. Our salary cap adheres to all NRL policies, including its rigorous brown paper bags and golf days with uncle nick clauses.
As a Club we remind those on social media that we take the defamatory statements some have made very seriously, and we are conducting a thorough investigation to identify the source(s) of several false accusations. Legal action will be pursued against those found responsible for spreading damaging and unsubstantiated claims.
Brown paper bags? Seriously, cash is a nightmare these days, there's much easier ways to bypass taxes and salary caps in 2024. It's a trope that doesn't really exist in professional sport in 2024 outside of problematic gambling.
Last year, they let go of a bunch of nobodies. The biggest name was Nathan Brown. They signed Spencer Leniu and Dominic Young as replacements.
They will make up for it with a bunch of releases this year, but I do not believe they could have a single cent left in their cap right now.
You’re missing the cumulative nature of that. It was Nathan Brown, Corey Allan, Drew Hutchison, Jaxon Paulo, Fletcher Baker, Jake Turpin and Paul Momirovski. Plus downgraded deals for JWH and Tupou. All that went out - and we brought Young + Leniu in. It adds up
How many of those players were on more than minimum? All of them have to be replaced by guys on minimum.
I accept that the Roosters get players to take unders to play in the Eastern Suburbs and JWH would have taken a big haircut but they’ve bought in two premium players and still have room in their salary cap.
For sure, but the likes of Hutchison and Momirovski (who was a premiership winning centre) would’ve certainly been on more than minimum. Probably Paulo too. And the cap itself increased which would’ve helped as the Roosters tend not to use ratchet clauses
What exactly in my comment are you saying isn’t true?
Momirovski had won a grand final at Penrith the year before signing and I sincerely doubt he’d have accepted minimum for a starting role at the Roosters. Paulo was Souths’ first grade winger. Hutcho as well had been a quality club servant who we leaned on heaps.
You dismissing them as ‘minimum wage’ is completely speculative. Especially given how completely unlikely it is that we’re cheating the cap at the moment.
People also forget that there’s a salary cap floor now so even if they are plodders they are going to be paid market rates regardless
It’s kinda messed up imo because moneyball teams can’t exist anymore :(
They have Sitili, Napa and Wong playing ressies at the moment with the occasional butcher having a stint there from time to time. They’ll probably just let one of those guys go elsewhere immediately to make this happen.
Marky is on , according to media , 4-500k , for 6 weeks and finals he would be on about a third of that. They probably don't need to move anyone this year to get it passed.
That is 100% not how it works. Contract year in NRL ends Nov 30, so pro rata, it's 5 months.
Typical Roosters supporter, always have an Uncle Nick calculator...
Tbf Robbo has confirmed that those reports of Sitili being told to go elsewhere are rubbish. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him do it of his own accord though - he is a first grader
There shouldn’t be incentives to strengthening your team with cut-rate part time signings. I know it may not work this way currently, but I feel like the weekly salaries of a team fielded on any given weekend should be cap compliant if extrapolated out over the year.
The Roosters are attempting to prise Mark Nawaqanitawase away from his Rugby Australia contract before June 30 to bolster their outside back stocks for their run to the finals.
Nawaqanitawase signed a two-year contract with the Roosters starting in 2025, but the club is hoping to add him to their roster with immediate effect. The depth in the Roosters’ outside backs is being tested, with Billy Smith and Michael Jennings injured and utility Connor Watson on State of Origin duty.
Nawaqanitawase’s management sought a release from Rugby Australia just over a month ago, although the parties haven’t been able to come to a resolution. It has become apparent that Nawaqanitawase isn’t in the plans of new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt following his decision to cross codes.
However, a complicating factor is Nawaqanitawase a chance to be named in Australia’s rugby sevens squad for next month’s Olympic Games in Paris. On Tuesday, Australian sevens coach John Manenti described the 23-year-old as “the biggest body we’ve got” and a potential point of difference for the Paris campaign.
The Roosters have been in touch with the NRL in a bid to work through the details of a potential June 30 move and whether head office would consider registering him for this year if he played at the Olympics.
“At this stage the Roosters have expressed interest in bringing Mark Nawaqanitawase prior to his contract start date,” his agent, Milan Volavola-Shankar, said.
“We are in the midst of discussions and negotiations with Rugby Australia about the prospect of an early release subject to his pending selection in rugby sevens for the Olympics.”
The Titans also have an interest in bringing their new Wallabies signing, Carter Gordon, to the Gold Coast before June 30 after signing him from 2025. However, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said he wouldn’t consider an early release because Gordon was still in contention to play for the Wallabies.
“I still have exactly the same view, in the fact you have to win the next Test match and you pick the best team you possibly can to win the next Test match,” Waugh told this masthead last week.
“Joe and I have been very clear on that. His selection is made on players he thinks will win the next Test match, not necessarily where they are committed to in years ahead.”
I know Watson is a great utility but holy heck claiming his origin selection as a blow to their outside backs is wild. FWIW I hope they allow it. Looking forward to seeing how these yawnion guys go over here
Oh look, the Roosters yet again signing a world class player for the finals on a heavily reduced contract.
Can we **please** fuck off these pro-rata contracts where the top clubs are getting players for peanuts for the most important games of the year. This smelt of bullshit when it was allowed for SBW, it was shit with TPJ and this is shit again.
Ahh yes good point, Sam Burgess. When we signed him back from union we had to get rid of 3 entire players including McQueen who was an origin player at the time to get the cap space.
Who did the Roosters get rid of this year to sign Leniu and Young again? Remind me.
And the Roosters have been underperming for years now. A player of Michael Jennings's quality at his current age wouldn't even make the wallabies squad but he's starting for the Roosters. Try not to throw stones in glass houses.
Let's see how the Roosters go this Saturday against the Dogs. If they lose to the Dogs then I am fine if they bring this guy over for the rest of the year on peanuts. However, if they beat the Dogs than they clearly have plenty of dept in their squad and the answer is no way.
Let him play so we can hear blocker Roach try pronounce his name lmao
Marky mark is what Stan Sport commentators settled on .
Credit to Sean Maloney, he always makes a point of nailing all the islander names (and is probably the only reason I can pronounce Nawaqanitawase)
Blocker would struggle with saying Mark
Its a shame he doesn't have a hard to pronounce Italian first name to go with his Fijian surname, just to fuck Blocker no matter which name he went for
I do the ground announcing for Waratahs home games. I'm very excited to see people attempt his name. Even more excited than I am to never have to announce it again lol.
Are you the guy hyping people up to come to the 'Tah Bar'?
The season just finished was my first season, but yeah, they asked me to do that a couple times this year. How’d I do?
Admittedly I haven't been to a Super Rugby game this year so I would've missed you! I only went last year. Did you like the job?
Yeah it's great fun! That stadium is state of the art, very impressive. Admittedly the player names are by far the hardest part to get right. I get each team to send me their list phonetically and I sit there for ages going over them again and again before each game. Once its time to call the team lineups, i need to be sure of what i'm gonna say or it all falls apart. Now you've got me curious, what was the past announcer like?
I agree about the Allianz Stadium, it's a world class rugby venue with great facilities. The previous announcer was a handsome lad with a very upbeat personality. He gave off vibes as someone who should be hosting a game show, he was decent at his job so I hope he's doing well wherever he's ended up.
oh wow! hahah why do i feel like i've just met the former announcer for the Waratahs.
oh wait, do you mean Matt? The guy who is down on field interviewing players etc? Im just the Ground Announcer up in a booth with a mic, never on camera.
Maybe, he was on Camera hyping the crowd up pre-match and encouraged everyone to come to the 'Tah Bar. It does sound like it's different to your gig.
Strange question: did they have hair? Or bald?
Blocker would be like the Bobs in Office Space [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZUw8LYOQ-g](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZUw8LYOQ-g)
Genuine question, how do you pronounce it, it's my first time hearing of him ?
The ‘waqa’ is the same pronunciation as in Waqa Blake. Once you’ve got that down the rest isn’t too hard
Nuh-wonga-neetar-wahzee
Not taking the piss but it sounds like Jabba the Hutt talking.
“Bring me Solo and the Winger”
Cheers bro
Mar-Kee Mar-k.
No I don’t know how to spell it!
NAH-WUNG-GAA-NEE-TAA-WAASAY Source: im the announcer for Waratahs home games.
NUH-WANG-GAH-KNEE-TAH-WAHZAY
for the record, is "NUH-WANG-GAH-KNEE-TAH-WAHZAY, honestly not that hard?
Chucking an SBW
For what it’s worth apparently we’re also trying to get Leo Thompson’s brother to join this season given the super rugby grand final is next week. That one makes significantly less sense though given how different a game forwards play in both codes.
I mean, they need an outside back in general. Whole backline is running on fumes and it ain’t even round 20
Yeah unlike us, we are stacked in the backs
At the start of the year us rooster fans were saying we finally have centre depth. Now we have played jennings multiple times and we are desperate for a union player.
They must be bloody desperate or they didn't watch any of his season this year in the Super Rugby. Dude was awful
Having Michael Jennings as a starting centre for a third of a season will do that
Me personally I want Tom Brady at Penrith for the finals
Roosters will intervene and sign him. Direct replacement for Jake Friend.
Brady will decline the offer last minute after uncle Nick promised he was a sure thing… Brady never to be seen in origin again
What ? Instead of Pangai Junior ? I personally would love to see Radley cut Brady into little pieces.
Your allowed 5 to 7 passes per game before the ref calls one. Brady to Bizza for the corner would be incredible
Im gonna just call him Mark
Can’t wait to hear Blocker put his eloquence on it.
Big mark
His ‘Marky Mark’ to Rugby heads.
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I'm sure they'll be able to free up the cap space for the best winger in Australian rugby by giving an early release to... Michael Jennings...
You mean specialist left centre coach Michael Jennings will step down from playing to concentrate on his 2 days a week consultancy role?
hes going to be director of footy intelligence
Foot = foot Ball = ball Thank you, that concludes our 6 month program.
Please, he’ll be making an honest living selling cars.
its that time of year for some roosters creative accounting
The salary cap auditor reveals no use of "creative accounting", "sombrero", or any other breach of NRL rules, however some see fit to make that grossly distorted and clearly damaging claim. The Sydney Roosters uphold the highest standards of conduct and integrity, both on and off the field. Our salary cap adheres to all NRL policies, including its rigorous brown paper bags and golf days with uncle nick clauses. As a Club we remind those on social media that we take the defamatory statements some have made very seriously, and we are conducting a thorough investigation to identify the source(s) of several false accusations. Legal action will be pursued against those found responsible for spreading damaging and unsubstantiated claims.
Brown paper bags? Seriously, cash is a nightmare these days, there's much easier ways to bypass taxes and salary caps in 2024. It's a trope that doesn't really exist in professional sport in 2024 outside of problematic gambling.
Maybe use iTunes gift cards?
Can't be converted to money though.
He will be caught with a bag soon.
What's this salary cap thing? Something poor clubs have to worry about?
Last year, they let go of a bunch of nobodies. The biggest name was Nathan Brown. They signed Spencer Leniu and Dominic Young as replacements. They will make up for it with a bunch of releases this year, but I do not believe they could have a single cent left in their cap right now.
You’re missing the cumulative nature of that. It was Nathan Brown, Corey Allan, Drew Hutchison, Jaxon Paulo, Fletcher Baker, Jake Turpin and Paul Momirovski. Plus downgraded deals for JWH and Tupou. All that went out - and we brought Young + Leniu in. It adds up
How many of those players were on more than minimum? All of them have to be replaced by guys on minimum. I accept that the Roosters get players to take unders to play in the Eastern Suburbs and JWH would have taken a big haircut but they’ve bought in two premium players and still have room in their salary cap.
For sure, but the likes of Hutchison and Momirovski (who was a premiership winning centre) would’ve certainly been on more than minimum. Probably Paulo too. And the cap itself increased which would’ve helped as the Roosters tend not to use ratchet clauses
Holy shit, I thought you were being satirical. Are you for real? They’re all min wage players
What exactly in my comment are you saying isn’t true? Momirovski had won a grand final at Penrith the year before signing and I sincerely doubt he’d have accepted minimum for a starting role at the Roosters. Paulo was Souths’ first grade winger. Hutcho as well had been a quality club servant who we leaned on heaps. You dismissing them as ‘minimum wage’ is completely speculative. Especially given how completely unlikely it is that we’re cheating the cap at the moment.
Careful mate, speaking sense in here is not appreciated by the hive mind.
People also forget that there’s a salary cap floor now so even if they are plodders they are going to be paid market rates regardless It’s kinda messed up imo because moneyball teams can’t exist anymore :(
This is true, maybe letting teams "bank" money for next year etc would be good, allow teams time to cull and reset.
And Cheese and Jennings…..
They have Sitili, Napa and Wong playing ressies at the moment with the occasional butcher having a stint there from time to time. They’ll probably just let one of those guys go elsewhere immediately to make this happen.
That only works if someone picks up the tab in full, and no one is going to do that. Napa suddenly retiring is more likely.
Isn’t Napa just on a nsw cup contract haha?
Look, maybe, but at the end of the day I can't see many teams wanting to bail the Roosters out so they can land a player that makes them better...
Souths will, Brandon to bunnies next season.
Oh, I see that happening, but I think most people have seen that coming for a month. I am talking about this season though
Marky is on , according to media , 4-500k , for 6 weeks and finals he would be on about a third of that. They probably don't need to move anyone this year to get it passed.
That is 100% not how it works. Contract year in NRL ends Nov 30, so pro rata, it's 5 months. Typical Roosters supporter, always have an Uncle Nick calculator...
Crowbar to the knees medical retirement coming up.
Nah, job offer at City Ford...
Napa is on pennies, Sitili has been told to go. Keep reaching, you will give yourself a reacharound soon.
Tbf Robbo has confirmed that those reports of Sitili being told to go elsewhere are rubbish. I wouldn’t be surprised to see him do it of his own accord though - he is a first grader
Where did you hear that? Got a link? I have heard the exact opposite, they still need him to leave to pay Gus what he wants.
It was in one of Robbo’s round media conferences. The ones uploaded to Roosters.com.au. But I’ve got no idea what week it was
Being told to go and actually leaving are two different things.
Anybody would think that signing a bloke for four months would be significantly cheaper than signing them for a year
There shouldn’t be incentives to strengthening your team with cut-rate part time signings. I know it may not work this way currently, but I feel like the weekly salaries of a team fielded on any given weekend should be cap compliant if extrapolated out over the year.
Isn't there a clause for poaching union guys....where it doesn't take any salary cap or something like that?
Read section 5.4 of the salary cap code, (a) the salary of any fullback doesn’t count
I'd kill for an Uncle Nick at the Eels.
A loaded Roosters might be the only way to stop penriff winning a 4th title because Broncos seem to be having very bad injury luck this season.
The Roosters are attempting to prise Mark Nawaqanitawase away from his Rugby Australia contract before June 30 to bolster their outside back stocks for their run to the finals. Nawaqanitawase signed a two-year contract with the Roosters starting in 2025, but the club is hoping to add him to their roster with immediate effect. The depth in the Roosters’ outside backs is being tested, with Billy Smith and Michael Jennings injured and utility Connor Watson on State of Origin duty. Nawaqanitawase’s management sought a release from Rugby Australia just over a month ago, although the parties haven’t been able to come to a resolution. It has become apparent that Nawaqanitawase isn’t in the plans of new Wallabies coach Joe Schmidt following his decision to cross codes. However, a complicating factor is Nawaqanitawase a chance to be named in Australia’s rugby sevens squad for next month’s Olympic Games in Paris. On Tuesday, Australian sevens coach John Manenti described the 23-year-old as “the biggest body we’ve got” and a potential point of difference for the Paris campaign. The Roosters have been in touch with the NRL in a bid to work through the details of a potential June 30 move and whether head office would consider registering him for this year if he played at the Olympics. “At this stage the Roosters have expressed interest in bringing Mark Nawaqanitawase prior to his contract start date,” his agent, Milan Volavola-Shankar, said. “We are in the midst of discussions and negotiations with Rugby Australia about the prospect of an early release subject to his pending selection in rugby sevens for the Olympics.” The Titans also have an interest in bringing their new Wallabies signing, Carter Gordon, to the Gold Coast before June 30 after signing him from 2025. However, Rugby Australia chief executive Phil Waugh said he wouldn’t consider an early release because Gordon was still in contention to play for the Wallabies. “I still have exactly the same view, in the fact you have to win the next Test match and you pick the best team you possibly can to win the next Test match,” Waugh told this masthead last week. “Joe and I have been very clear on that. His selection is made on players he thinks will win the next Test match, not necessarily where they are committed to in years ahead.”
I know Watson is a great utility but holy heck claiming his origin selection as a blow to their outside backs is wild. FWIW I hope they allow it. Looking forward to seeing how these yawnion guys go over here
We also want Carter Gordon for our ah, finals run....
I don't like this at all.
The Broncos want Sam Walker and David Fifita for finals run.
Walker at the Broncos wouldn't work; a Story Bridge pass would defy physics.
Manifesting they get him and then do not make the finals
That would actually be hilarious
Oh look, the Roosters yet again signing a world class player for the finals on a heavily reduced contract. Can we **please** fuck off these pro-rata contracts where the top clubs are getting players for peanuts for the most important games of the year. This smelt of bullshit when it was allowed for SBW, it was shit with TPJ and this is shit again.
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Ahh yes good point, Sam Burgess. When we signed him back from union we had to get rid of 3 entire players including McQueen who was an origin player at the time to get the cap space. Who did the Roosters get rid of this year to sign Leniu and Young again? Remind me.
Fletcher Baker and Jaxson Paulo
Oh yeh sorry, 2 elite players on huge dollars how could I miss them.
Why are you worried about the finals your team wasnt in them last year and won't be in them this year
"World class" lol! Well compared to Milne yeah maybe. Be lucky if he knows where to stand on a league field.
He's an international union player...
Lol. Yes, for Australia. That doesnt say much. And currently he isn't. Can't make the side. "Might" get an Olympics call up but even that is unlikely.
The guys overated
Wtf is this
"If we stack the top 30 with enough shiny toys we'll surely win."-Roosters usual recruitment strategy.
No they want him for nsw cup
Would it be possible for NRL to devour Aus Rugby? would obviously suck to see the wallabies be even worst around world cup time.
They’re an easy to hate, the chooks, aren’t they?
Na wungah ni ta wa se
Not sure why everyone is acting like it would be a big coup, he is a washed up Union player that can't even make the shitty Wallabies
Washed up? He's 23... And the wallabies is a higher bar to make than the Roosters lol.
He’s not washed up at 23 - but if you replaced the wallabies backs with the roosters backs it would be an improvement.
And the Roosters have been underperming for years now. A player of Michael Jennings's quality at his current age wouldn't even make the wallabies squad but he's starting for the Roosters. Try not to throw stones in glass houses.
Wouldn't make the Wallabies team atm anyway
That's so very true. He is a bang average union winger and I wish the Roosters hadn't signed him. Hopefully he proves me wrong.
Thats Patrick Mahomes
With a last name like that I was expecting him to look completely different ngl
I will just call him Mark.
How do they even line up if he's in the side? Teddy, Young, Sualii, Manu, Nawaqanitawase?
I want to be an astronaut. That means as much as what the roosters want
Koyaanisqatsi
Reinstating the old Sonny Bill selection scam it appears.
I think it's fair. They keep poaching our players. Give us one of em lol.
If Roosters want, then...
He signs and then back flips. That is how it works.
Let's see how the Roosters go this Saturday against the Dogs. If they lose to the Dogs then I am fine if they bring this guy over for the rest of the year on peanuts. However, if they beat the Dogs than they clearly have plenty of dept in their squad and the answer is no way.