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'Get the ball and run': Australian dual-code great's advice to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck ahead move to union
Former Wallabies and Kangaroos wing Lote Tuqiri has offered NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck some advice ahead of his high-profile move to rugby union.
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Warriors star Tuivasa-Sheck confirmed on Saturday that he will leave rugby league after the 2021 NRL season to chase his All Blacks dream following reports of a code switch earlier this week.
In doing so, he follows a raft of other players who have jumped between the two sports in years gone by, including Tuqiri, who flourished in both codes.
Beginning his professional rugby career in league with the Brisbane Broncos in 1999, Tuqiri won an NRL title the following year, represented Queensland six times, the Kangaroos five times and Fiji three times between 2000 and 2002.
A move to union came in 2003 after he signed a deal with the Waratahs, and he made his Wallabies debut that same year.
After starring for Australia en route to their runners-up finish at the 2003 World Cup, Tuqiri stayed on with the Waratahs and Wallabies through until 2009, and featured at the 2007 World Cup in France.
Following a brief stint with English club Leicester Tigers, Tuqiri returned to league, joining the Wests Tigers in the NRL in 2010.
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His performances for there earned him a further four tests for the Kangaroos at the 2010 Four Nations, before he moved to the the South Sydney Rabbitohs in 2014.
It was with the Bunnies where he earned both a second NRL title and a further test appearance for Fiji in the final season of his career.
With such vast playing experience across both codes, Tuqiri is well versed in the difficulties of jumping between the two sports.
However, the 41-year-old told Fox Sports that Tuivasa-Sheck, a NRL title-winner with the Sydney Roosters in 2013 and recipient of the Dally M Medal in 2018, has all the attributes required to succeed in union.
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“I played Roger in his younger days, in 2013, and he is an unbelievable athlete,” Tuqiri said.
“I think with a little bit of work, just with rules and positional play and this and that, I think he would have no problem with the transition.”
Tuqiri said that the only issue Tuivasa-Sheck will come up against in union is the depth of talent New Zealand Rugby has at its disposal.
A fullback in league, it’s likely Tuivasa-Sheck will play in the outside backs when he transitions back to union, the sport he played for the Blues and New Zealand at schoolboy level a decade ago.
Beauden Barrett, Jordie Barrett, Will Jordan, Damian McKenzie, Caleb Clarke, Sevu Reece, George Bridge and David Havili are all competing for places in the All Blacks’ back three, leaving Tuivasa-Sheck with a significant challenge to work his way into the national set-up.
“The thing is in New Zealand he is up against it with a lot of talent over there. But he is going over at the peak of his powers, really. He’s 27, you’re probably just hitting your straps around this time in your career. He is the perfect candidate,” Tuqiri told Fox Sports.
“The only problem he will face, really, is the opposition he will face [for an All Blacks jersey].
“They’ve got freak athletes in the outside backs over there, but he has played rugby union as a youngster. I wouldn’t think he would have too many problems.”
Whether Tuivasa-Sheck succeeds in his bid to make the All Blacks in the coming years, Tuqiri offered him a piece of advice to help make his move easier.
“I would just tell him to run the ball, get the ball and run and then people work in and around you after that,” he said.
“It’s your train of thought really, because you’ve played one game for so long.
“The one thing for him will be recycling the ball when he gets tackled, getting that back rather than thinking of getting up and playing the ball.
“Body height is a massive thing, going into contact because you are a lot lower in rugby. When you’re in close quarters you can’t afford to have your body height too high, especially in the higher levels you play because you’ll have the ball ripped off you.”
If reports that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is on his way to rugby union with an eye on an All Blacks jersey are to be believed, the implications of such a move would be significant in the fifteen-man code.https://t.co/EtxGOzfhak
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 29, 2021
Comments on RugbyPass
I hope WRU cops a 12 month ban.
1 Go to commentsOuch. Pumped. Even Nohamba is a better flyhalf than Ford.
2 Go to commentsI hope Leinster’s proud of themselves fielding a poor team. They should decide if they’re all in or not.
2 Go to commentsJordie is looking at 16 games maximum if Leinster reach both the URC and champions cup finals. Thats not guaranteed. Some of those home URC fixtures will be cakewalks as well for Leinster and there is not much doing during the 6 nations in Feb and March so he can probably get a decent rest then. He will have to really put in it for maybe 7 or 8 games max. It should be a good move for both.
13 Go to commentsThe game was a quarter final, not a semi final. Barrett will be here for 6 months, he is no one's replacement at 13. That mantle will most likely ultimately go to Jamie Osborne, though Garry Ringrose has at least 4 more years in him. The long term problem position (in the next 3 years) for Leinster is tighthead prop, though there are a couple of prospects at schools level.
33 Go to commentsSo much for all that hype surrounding the ‘revival’ of Aussie rugby. The Blues were without the likes of regular starters Perofeta, Sullivan, Christie etc… This was a capitulation of the highest order by Australia’s finest. Joe Schmidt definitely has his work cut out for him.
2 Go to commentsYes they can ignore Sotutu. Like Akira Ioane plays OK at Super level but gets lost in tests. Too many chances too many failures.
2 Go to commentsA wallaby front-row of Bell, Blake and Tupou…now that would be hefty
1 Go to comments“But with an exceptional pass accuracy rating “ Which apart from Roigard is not a feature of any of the other 9s in NZ. Kind of basic for a Black 9 dont.you. think? Yet we keep seeing FC and TJ being rated ahead of him? Weird if it’s seen as vital to get our backline beating in your face defences.
1 Go to commentsThanks BeeMc! Looks like many teams need extra time to settle from the quadrennial northern migration. I think generally the quality of the Rugby has held up. Fiji has been fantastic and fun to watch
13 Go to commentsLets compare apples with apples. Lyon sent weak team the week before, but nobody raised an eyebrow. Give the South African teams a few years to build their depth, then you will be moaning that the teams are too strong.
41 Go to commentsDid footballs agents also perform the scout role at some time? I’m surprised more high profile players haven’t taken up the occupation, great way to remain in the game and use all that experience without really requiring a lot of specific expertise?
1 Go to commentsSuper rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
13 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
10 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
13 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
6 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
27 Go to comments