Roosters' 2026 premiership winner Nawaqanitawase, also a dual international, was a revelation on the wing for the club in a memorable stint during which he scored 47 tries in 47 games.
The 26-year-old NSW and Kangaroos star has inked a two-year deal with Saitama Wild Knights in Japan on his return to rugby union and is set to play at next year's Rugby World Cup for either Australia, Italy or Fiji.
The Roosters are keen to have him back in 2028 when current captain and No.1 James Tedesco will likely be in the final year of his career if he and the club agree to a one-year extension.
If not, then the man known as "Marky Mark" could assume the No.1 jersey immediately after learning plenty about NRL fullback play from one of his idols.
Hunt is now Cook Islands coach at the Rugby League World Cup. The 2006 premiership winner with Brisbane shone in the No.1 jersey for the Broncos, Queensland and Australia and has no doubt Nawaqanitawase could do the same.
"He would be a success at fullback because one thing you can't do is doubt Marky Mark," Hunt told AAP.
"I was lucky enough to be at the Waratahs when he was coming through as a young kid and some of the freakish stuff he was doing on TV for the Roosters he was doing at training.
"He just needs to change his training output and I am sure he would get used to the workload that is required at fullback."
Nawaqanitawase was far more than a flashy winger for the Roosters. He loved the hard carries and the effort areas that are required at No.1. Hunt said he would put a unique stamp on playing fullback
"Teddy is different to Reece Walsh and Kalyn Ponga in that he is a run-first fullback," Hunt said.
"There are different ways you can play the position and Marky Mark might create an entirely different No.1. It would be exciting to see it."
After the NRL grand final, Nawaqanitawase told AAP that Tedesco was a player he studied in his teenage years.
"I used to go for the Wests Tigers when Teddy was there back in the day," he said
"There are aspects of his game I wanted to emulate coming over to league. I took parts of his game like breaking tackles and running the ball into mine and it has been an absolute pleasure to play with him
"I learned so much from him and I love him to death. He is an absolute legend."
Nawaqanitawase has said that if he returned to the NRL it would be with the Roosters.
He revealed an interesting back story to his grand final try in the first half against Newcastle when he kicked a loose ball on the ground with his right foot and then his left with panache before regathering to score.
His grandfather is Italian and Nawaqanitawase was a talented soccer player at school.
"Nonno wanted me to follow that path but I had other plans," he grinned.
"The ball was on the ground and the closest thing to it was my feet. I thought I would do a little bit of a (Lionel) Messi and dribble it forward.
"I was lucky it bounced up into my arms and I got over for the try.
"I loved (Francesco) Totti but Messi is the man for me.
"I'm not a left-footer like him. I wish I was but if you saw that try I did use my left foot as well."
