Mark Nawaqanitawase has returned from his whirlwind State of Origin debut to star in the Sydney Roosters’ 27-8 defeat of Cronulla at Allianz Stadium.
Sunday’s win lifts the Roosters back into the top four and snaps an unconvincing run of form. Their only win in the previous five weeks had been against 16th-placed Canberra.
The Roosters’ returning Origin contingent were in the thick of the action in a clash of top-eight hopefuls.
Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today
NSW fullback James Tedesco played through a broken nose suffered in a collision with Sione Katoa that required constant attention from the Roosters’ trainer.
Queensland’s game two man of the match Sam Walker threw the last pass for Billy Smith to touch down, then came up with a try-saving tackle on Billy Burns.
Maroons prop Lindsay Collins was again an unlikely tryscorer, tearing past KL Iro on the 50-metre line and then connecting with Daly Cherry-Evans and Tedesco en route to the line.
But Nawaqanitawase shone brightest of all.
The Roosters’ right winger racked up two tries and 197 metres only days after Casey McLean’s leg injury brought him onto the wing for a surprise NSW debut.
Not for the first time, the rugby union-bound winger played out an enthralling tit-for-tat with his opposite man Ronaldo Mulitalo.
The pair confronted each other throughout, most notably after Mulitalo jammed his forearm into Nawaqanitawase’s face in a first-half tackle.
Mulitalo had the Sharks’ first try in the final minutes of the opening half following a cut-out pass form Braydon Trindall.
But Nawaqanitawase had the better of the heavyweight match-up.
First, Nawaqanitawase outleapt the Sharks winger ahead of Robert Toia’s try down the right side. Nawaqanitawase then offloaded to Connor Watson at close range and the utility carved through the middle to help Walker put Smith over.
When Nawaqanitawase beat Mulitalo to Cherry-Evans’ crossfield kick with 15 minutes to play, the Roosters winger had a try of his own and pushed the lead to 12 points.
For good measure, Nawaqanitawase helped Tedesco bundle Mulitalo into touch as the Sharks chased late points, then skipped past Iro for his second try in the last two minutes.