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Report: Warriors superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck set for eleventh hour switch to rugby union
A bombshell deal to bring talismanic New Zealand Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck back to rugby union could be completed within a week.
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The Herald understands a deal is looking likely for Tuivasa-Sheck to walk away from league after the 2021 season — and sign a contract with New Zealand Rugby with the goal of representing the All Blacks at the 2023 World Cup.
The code switch, first reported by Australia’s Daily Telegraph, is yet to be concluded, but sources have confirmed to the Herald that discussions are under way and while there are still factors to be worked out, negotiations are likely to end in the 27-year-old star moving to the 15-man code.
Tuivasa-Sheck’s name has been linked to rugby before, but it appears now the timing is right, with the star fullback set to play out the NRL campaign with the Warriors — his million-dollar contract for 2022 has a player option — before moving to rugby, where the Blues, who he played for as a junior, would be hot favourites for his signature.
The 2018 Dally M winner spent a period this summer training with the All Blacks Sevens, and previously admitted to considering jumping ship to rugby before the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
“It was close,” Tuivasa-Sheck told the Herald at the time. “I really did enjoy the game and being in New Zealand it’s rugby 24/7 here, so there was a lot of noise about going over.
“I didn’t [dismiss the idea]. I really enjoyed the Lions tour. That looked amazing, to play on that stage.
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“Definitely we had a few discussions about it but at the end of the day I had to weigh it all up and I chose rugby league.”
Now, it seems like he is making the move, with it understood that New Zealand Rugby would require Tuivasa-Sheck to switch codes before 2022 — giving him the potential of two Super Rugby seasons — to be a possibility of World Cup selection.
Losing their inspirational skipper after this season would be a cruel blow to the Warriors and new coach Nathan Brown, especially after Tuivasa-Sheck’s efforts leading the team during their enforced stay in Australia last season.
Tuivasa-Sheck was the only player whose family didn’t join him in Australia in 2020, and he found it tough away from partner Ashley Walker, and their young children Amara, aged 3, and Nico, 1, who started crawling when Tuivasa-Sheck was leading the Warriors overseas.
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“Oh man, I think about going home all the time, especially when I’m watching a milestone like that on my phone,” Tuivasa-Sheck said last season.
“Just [the idea of] being with my kids and being with my partner.”
Tuivasa-Sheck again had to say goodbye to his family last month as the Warriors headed for another Australian trip of undetermined length, though his family are set to join him next month in Terrigal.
That is now set to be his last season with the Warriors, following in the footsteps of the likes of Sonny Bill Williams and Benji Marshall in making a high-profile switch from the top of league in an effort to make the All Blacks.
According to the Daily Telegraph, the Warriors have told Tuivasa-Sheck they “won’t stand in his way of an early exit” but that his contract will have a clause inserted stating that he must return to the Warriors, should he play in the NRL again.
Comments on RugbyPass
smith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
36 Go to commentsBar 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.
36 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
36 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
36 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.
36 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.
36 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.
36 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.
36 Go to comments