The cross-code stars who helped Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's Blues move
Blues star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has revealed how a handful of current and former cross-code stars helped initiate his own move from rugby league to rugby union last year.
Speaking to media at his inaugural press conference as a Blues player on Thursday, Tuivasa-Sheck opened up about how three ex-NRL players, who forged their own paths in union, influenced him to make the jump between codes.
That trio – Sonny Bill Williams, Ngani Laumape and Matt Duffie – all became All Blacks after switching to union, and Tuivasa-Sheck told reporters that he reached out to all three players for advice in the years preceding his move to the Blues.
The 2018 Dally M Medallist said his conversations with Williams, Laumape and Duffie opened his eyes to the differences in pre-season training between union and league, which he labelled as a key factor behind his decision to switch codes.
“I remember a few years ago I was pondering the idea [of playing union],” Tuivasa-Sheck said.
“I spoke to players like Ngani Laumape, Matt Duffie and Sonny of course. I think the one thing that came back from them was they just love the pre-season and loved the breaks that they were getting compared to league. That was sort of the big difference.
“For me, it was just about trying to make sure it all lined up with what my goals were and what was best for the family. I’m glad I made the decision and I’m here now.”
Williams, Laumape and Duffie weren’t the only players Tuivasa-Sheck consulted about the move, as the 28-year-old revealed he held discussions with ex-All Blacks captain and former Blues coach Tana Umaga about the adjustment from league to union.
Umaga is no stranger to the differences between the two codes, having represented New Zealand in league at age-grade level before signing with the Newcastle Knights as an 18-year-old in 1991.
However, the 48-year-old returned to New Zealand three weeks later and went on to make 74 test appearances for the All Blacks in an international career lasting from 1997 to 2005.
Tuivasa-Sheck said Umaga’s experience as a midfielder has proven to be useful as he attempts to transition to union as a second-five, with Blues boss Leon MacDonald outlining his intention to play his big-name recruit in the No 12 jersey this year.
“Definitely have reached out to a few people, but, more so, I’ve been talking to someone like Tana,” the 2013 NRL Premiership winner said.
“Once I got told that I’d be looking to play midfield, I kind of reached out more to Tana and tried to pick his brains.
“I don’t think there’s anyone better than Tana there, and, especially defensively, having someone like that to fall back to and always ask questions.”
Of his current teammates, Tuivasa-Sheck said he is yet to speak to star playmaker Beauden Barrett, who is still on extended leave following last year’s All Blacks season.
“I haven’t spent much time. I think he’s been busy with his campaign with the ABs and now he’s enjoying his break. You’ve got to allow that. I think there’s a lot more things that I can work on while I’m here.”
He has spent plenty of time with five-test All Blacks wing Caleb Clarke, though, with the pair seen on social media training alongside each other throughout the off-season.
Clarke spoke highly of his training sessions with Tuivasa-Sheck earlier this week, and the latter returned the favour when asked about his training sessions with the youngster.
“Yeah I’d kind of seen Caleb training on his own through Instagram and I sort of reached out,” Tuivasa-Sheck said.
“All the boys were at the NPC time and I was back home not doing much and I could see Caleb was back from sevens, so I reached out and how could I compare his training to rugby?
“It’s been fun working with him and definitely learning a lot off Caleb and sort of what it takes.”
Tuivasa-Sheck is in line to make his first union appearance when the Blues host the Hurricanes in a pre-season fixture in Takapuna next weekend.
The Blues are then scheduled to kick their season off against cross-town rivals Moana Pasifika at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland a fortnight later on February 18.
Comments on RugbyPass
Farcical, to what end would someone want to pay to keep this thing going.
1 Go to commentsHavili, our best 12 by a mile, will be in the squad, if he stays fit. JB is the most overrated AB in the last 50 years.
61 Go to commentsWe had during the week twilight footy, twilight cricket, tw golf plus there was the athletics club. Then the weekend was rugby 15s plus the net ball, really busy club scene back then but so much has changed and rugby has suffered. And it was all about changing lifestyles.
6 Go to commentsIn the 70s and 80s my club ran 5 Senior sides plus a Vets. Now it is 2 sides with an occasional 3rd team. Players have difficulty getting to training now, not sure why and the commitment is not there. It seems to me more a problem of people applying themselves and not expecting to turn up and play whenever they want to.
6 Go to commentsROG’s contract is until 2027. The conversation about a successor to Galthie after RWC 2027 may be starting now. We can infer that Galthie’s reign stops then. He is throwing the Irish Coaching Job angle in because he is Irish. The next Irish coach MUST be Leo Cullen. As well as being the best coach available, coaching the vast majority of Irish Internationals week in week out, he has shown incredible skill at recruiting the best coaching staff for the job in hand. That was a failing in France. Cullen is a shrewd guy and if there is a need for foreign coaches underneath him he won’t hesitate. Rightly so. Ireland does need to start to bring Irish coaches through. Not just at the professional level but we need to train coaches to man new pathways for developing kids from schools/clubs up through the divisions.
7 Go to commentsNo Islam says it must rule where it stands Thus it is to be deleted from this planet Earth
18 Go to commentsThis team probably does not beat the ABs sadly Not sure if BPA will be available given his signing for Force but has to enter consideration. Very strong possibility of getting schooled by the AB props. Advantage AB. Rodda/Skelton would be a tasty locking combination - would love to see how they get on. Advantage Wallabies. Backrow a risk of getting out hustled and outmuscled by ABs. Will be interesting to see if the Blues feast on the Reds this weekend the way they did the Brumbies we are in big trouble at the breakdown. Great energy, running and defence but goalkicking/general kicking/passing quality in the halves bothers me enormously. SA may have won the World Cup for a lot of the tournament without a recognised goalkicker but Pollard in the final made a difference IMO. Injuries and retirements leave AB stocks a bit lighter but still stronger. 12 and 13 ABs shade it (Barret > Paisami, Ione = Ikitau, arguably) Interesting clash of styles on the wings - Corey Toole running around Caleb Clark and Caleb running over the top of Toole. Reece vs Koro probably the reverse. Pretty even IMO. 15s Kelleway = Love See advantage to ABs man for man, but we are not obviously getting slaughtered anywhere which makes a nice change. Think talent wise we are pretty even and if our cohesion and teamwork is better than the ABs then its just about doable.
11 Go to commentsCompletely agree. More friday night games would be a hit. RFU to make sure every club has a floodlit pitch. Club opens again Saturday to welcome touch / tag. Minis and youths on Sunday
6 Go to comments1.97m and 105Kg? Proportionately, probably skinnier than me at 1.82 and 82kilos. He won’t survive against the big guys at that weight.
55 Go to commentsThe value he brought to the crusaders as an assistant was equal to what he got out of being there. He reflected not only on the team culture but also the credit he attributed to the rugby community. Such experience shouldn’t be overlooked.
7 Go to commentsGood luck Aussie
11 Go to commentssmith at 9 / mounga 10 / laumape 12 / fainganuku 14
61 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.
11 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.
61 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.
7 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
61 Go to commentsAh, good to find you Nick. Agree with everything about Cale. So much to like about his game
55 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
61 Go to comments