'He was electrifying': Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's ex-rugby coach reveals which position he should play for Blues
One of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s former rugby coaches is excited to see how the New Zealand Warriors skipper fits back into rugby union.
Tuivasa-Sheck, who has spent the last nine seasons in the NRL with the Sydney Roosters and Warriors, is reportedly set to leave the 13-man code at the end of 2021 following the conclusion of his contract.
Rumours connecting the 27-year-old with a code switch have long been documented, and you can be forgiven for feeling the latest surfacing is another flog of a dead horse. However, sources confirmed to the Herald there are ongoing discussions, with an agreement potentially being reached within the next week.
Andrew Douglas coached the New Zealand secondary schools rugby team 10 years ago that Tuivasa-Sheck was a part of. He’s also previously mentored the St Peter’s Cambridge 1st XV, and is in the United States heading Old Glory DC in Major League Rugby.
Tuivasa-Sheck’s desire to leave will create a gaping hole in many Warriors’ fans hearts, but Douglas reckons he doesn’t owe the club – or New Zealand Rugby League – anything.
“It’s up for him and his family to decide what he wants to do with his [next] career step. I think most New Zealanders who appreciate what he’s done would put his thoughts first and wish him all the best.
“He’s a fairly strong family man; he sacrificed a lot last season for the Warriors and New Zealand Rugby League. He’s given that club a fair bit over the last few years, he’s been their leader and I think he’s done that really really well.”
Douglas described the mooted switch as exciting for rugby.
Tuivasa-Sheck is no stranger to New Zealand’s national game, having played for Otahuhu College 1st XV as well playing for the Blues development squad as a teenager. In the New Zealand secondary schools team he played alongside All Blacks Ardie Savea and Ngani Laumape.
It has been a decade since Douglas mentored Tuivasa-Sheck on field, but he knows how good he can be.
“He was electrifying quick over 10 metres, amazing footwork and the ability to do that at full pace was certainly something that stood out then. Defensively was very aware.
“He’s obviously physically a lot more mature now; he understands his game pretty well. It’ll be fitting into how the defensive patterns of rugby work these days in that back three, if that’s where he plays.”
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
What position he does play nowadays is a completely different kettle of fish. New Zealand rugby is always deep across park, but right now outside backs are arguably the country’s richest commodity, particularly considering Damian McKenzie struggles to nail a place on the All Blacks’ bench.
Thus playing somewhere else in the 15 may be the way to go for Tuivasa-Sheck – a typical fullback.
“Wing could be the place to start that, and then mould him back to fullback. I could actually see him at centre long term. Defensively reads really well… his ability to straighten up on attack and put others in space could be a real asset there too,” Douglas says.
“My one concern with fullback for him would be his kicking game. The way teams are playing these days… they don’t want to give away a lot of penalties; they tend to want to play the game in certain parts of the field. I’m not saying Roger can’t kick… but that would be my one reservation.
“You want a big voice back there so it means someone who understands the game very well. To be fair to him you want to give him time to settle in to rugby. He will, but it’s not going to happen overnight.”
By contrast, Douglas believes it is clear which Super Rugby club Tuivasa-Sheck will line up for.
“The Blues is obviously the logical fit for him,” he says.
“He lives in Auckland, his family’s all there, that’s where he grew up, it’s where he played his first franchise-type rugby.”
Should the move be confirmed, Tuivasa-Sheck will leave behind a fruitful rugby league career. He joined the Warriors in 2016 – following four seasons with the Roosters where he won a Premiership – and took over the club’s captaincy a year later from Simon Mannering. He helped guide them to a drought-breaking finals berth in 2018, a year in which he also won the Dally M medal – the first Warrior to do so in NRL history.
Comments on RugbyPass
Bar the injuries, it’s pretty much their top team …
2 Go to commentsDon’t disagree with much of this but it appears you forgot Rodda and Beale, who started at the Force on the weekend.
9 Go to commentsExcept for the injured Zach Gallagher this would be Saders best forward pack for the season. Blackadder needs to stay at 7, for all of Christies tackling he is not dominant and offers very little else. McNicholfullback is maybe a good option, Fihaki not really upto it, there was a reason Burke played there last year. Maybe Havilli to 2nd five McLeod to wing. Need a strong winger on 1 side to compliment Reece
1 Go to commentsTo me TJ is clearly the best 9 in the competition right now but he's also a proven player off the bench, there's few playmaking players who can come off the bench as calm and settled as he is, Beauden can, TJ can and I doubt any of the scrumhalves in contention can, if they want to experiment with new 9s I want him on the bench ready to step in if they crumble under the pressure. The Boks put their best front row on the bench, I'd like to see us take a similar approach, the Hurricanes have been doing similar things with players like Kirifi.
35 Go to commentsROG has better chance to win a WC if he starts training and make himself eligible as a player. He won’t make the Ireland squad but I reckon he may get close with Namibia (needs to improve his Afrikaans) or Portugal. Both sides had 1000:1 odds to win the RWC in 2023 which is an improvement on ROG’s odds of winning a RWC as a coach. Unlike Top 14 teams, national teams can’t go shopping and buy the best players - you work with the available talent pool and turn them into world beaters.
2 Go to commentsthat backline nope that backline is terrible why would you have sevu Reece when he’s not even top 5 wingers in the comp why have Blackadder when there’s better players no Scott barret isn’t an automatic the guy is more of a liability than anything why have him there when you have samipeni who’s far far better
35 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
49 Go to commentsNot too bad. Questions at 6, lock and HB for me. The ABs will be a lot stronger once Jordan and Roigard return. Also, work needs to be made to secure Frizzell back for next season and maybe also Mo’unga; they’re just wasting time playing in japan
35 Go to commentsOn the title, i wonder for many of those people it is a case something like a belief in working smarter, not harder?
1 Go to commentsForget Sotutu. One of those whose top level is Super Rugby. Id take a punt on Wallace Sititi Finau ahead of Glass body Blackadder.
35 Go to commentsI’m a pensioner so I've been around a bit. My opinion of SBW is he is an elite athlete and a great New Zealander and roll model. He has been to the top and knows what he's talking about. To all the negative comments regarding SBW the typical New Zealand way, cut that tall poppy down.
17 Go to commentsI'm not listening to a guy moralise over others when this is the guy who walked out mid season on Canterbury RLFC when he had a contract with them, what a hypocrite. All the Kiwis sticking up for this unprincipled individual because they can't accept justified criticism, he has zero credibility or integrity. Those praising him are a joke.
17 Go to commentsI’d put Finau at 6 instead of Blackadder but that’s the only change I’d make. Can’t wait to see who Razor picks.
35 Go to commentsTamati Williams, Codie Taylor, and Same Cane? Not sure about Hoskins Sotutu at test level. Wasn’t that impressive last season. Need a balance between experience and talent/youth.
35 Go to commentsInteresting insight. Fantastic athlete, and a genuine human being.
17 Go to commentsThey played at night in Suva last weekend and it’s an afternoon game forecast for 19 degrees in Canberra this weekend. Heat change is a non issue.
2 Go to commentsWishing Rosie a speedy recovery
1 Go to commentsObscene that SA haven’t been knocking
1 Go to commentsChances of Blackadder being injured seem too high to give him serious consideration. ABs loosie combination finally looked good with 2 committed to tackling and clearing rucks in the centre and Ardie roaming. Hoskins/Ardie together would force one of them into where they don’t excel and don’t get to use their talent, or require a change in tactics. If we continue to evolve last years systems I would take Papali’i and Finau at 6 and 7 (conceding that Blackadder will be injured) and Ardie at 8.
35 Go to commentsArdie’s preferred position 7? Where do they get these writers from? I've no idea where he's playing in Japan, but the previous two seasons he wore the 7 jersey exactly twice.
18 Go to comments