The NSW Waratahs have locked in the services of two more key players ahead of their 2022 Super Rugby campaign, with outside backs Alex Newsome and Mark Nawaqanitawase re-signing with the side.
Waratahs Vice-captain Alex Newsome has signed a one-year extension to his current deal, ensuring he will remain in the Sky-Blue at least until the end of the 2022 campaign.
Newsome, born and bred in Glen Innes in country NSW, ventured west to start his Super Rugby career making his debut for the Western Force in 2017, representing the Perth side on 13 occasions.
The versatile back headed home to join the Waratahs in in 2018 and has been a mainstay of the side ever since, notching up his 50th Super Rugby cap for the side earlier this year against the Western Force.
Newsome said it was an easy decision to re-commit to the Waratahs and believes there is a bright future for the Waratahs in 2022.
“At this stage at my career there is nowhere else in the world I’d rather be playing my footy,” Newsome said.
“I’m a NSW boy, born and bred, and incredibly proud to represent my home state. This year has been probably the toughest year of my career I’ve had to endure, and probably is the same for most of the guys in the squad.
“We’re desperate to turn things around next year and I feel like I’ve got a lot of unfinished business here with this team, so I’m really excited to re-commit.
“I’ve worked with DC (Darren Coleman) before so I’m really excited to have him come in, he’s got a lot of energy and brings in a lot of ideas.
“There’s a lot of unfulfilled potential in the team plus with a few additions to the squad, including Hoops coming back, there’s a lot of positive signs building at the Waratahs.”
Young gun outside back Mark Nawaqanitawase has signed a two-year extension to his deal, locking him in to the end of the 2023 season.
The talent outside back has had meteoric rise over the past 18 months, graduating from the Waratahs Gen Blue Academy to the main side, including scoring a memorable double on his Super Rugby debut against the Crusaders in 2020.
Nawaqanitawase believed the side’s fortunes are about to turn around and was thrilled to extend his time with the side.
“Look there’s no sugar coating it, we’ve had a rough 12 months, but I genuinely believe there’s something special building here,” Nawaqanitawase said.
“We were a pretty inexperienced team at the start of this year and due to our massive injury toll, a lot of guys got exposure to high level footy which will make us better placed for next year, including myself.
“There’s a lot of work getting put in right now and I think a change is coming. We’re incredibly motivated to turn things around and win for NSW.
“I love this team, it’s a great bunch of guys so it was a really easy decision to extend my time here.”
