Mark Nawaqanitawase's red-hot form in the NRL has earned the admiration of Joe Schmidt, the Wallabies coach saying the door remained open for the winger to return to the 15-man game.

Nawaqanitawase has had NRL pundits gushing with praise since landing at the Sydney Roosters after his Olympic Games exploits with the Australian sevens team last year.

The 25-year-old has turned heads with several eye-catching plays in his first full season in the NRL and finished the regular campaign with 23 tries in 22 games.

Spoken of as an option for the Kangaroos' Ashes tour to England this year, Nawaqanitawase will be free to speak to rival clubs - and codes - as soon as November 1 when he enters the final 12 months of his Roosters contract.

The lure of playing in the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australi

See Full Page