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Watch: the newest potential league convert to the All Blacks

First it was Ngani Laumape, now Matt Duffie will become the next former NRL star to pull on an All Black jersey in 2017.

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However, if rumors are to be believed, they may both be followed by an even bigger name in the 13-man code: Warriors and Kiwis fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.

The 24-year-old is said to have expressed a desire to return to rugby union, in which he gained selection for the NZ Schoolboys side in 2011. After leaving school he was signed by NRL club the Sydney Roosters, winning a premiership title in 2013. After 84 games and 28 tries for the Roosters, he returned home to Auckland to play for the Warriors for the past two years.

Tuivasa-Sheck has since found himself being one of the few highlights of the Warriors woeful 2016/17 campaigns.

Fairfax media reported that Tuivasa-Sheck’s manager Bruce Sharrock had confirmed a code-switch was on the cards.

“It’s entered discussions, I’m not going to deny that. That’s his background, the All Blacks are a world-recognised team with an amazing success rate. If you thought you were good enough to be a part of it, it’s not a bad ship to be a part of.”

Whatever the decision is, it seems as though one will be made in the near future.

“He’s at a stage in his career where if he is going to [switch codes], it’s probably going to be sooner rather than later. Not many people can shift later in their career, it makes it very tough.” Sharrock said.

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However, Tuivasa-Sheck was in no mood to talk about the rumors after the Kiwis’ 38-8 win over Toa Samoa last night at Mt Smart Stadium though, which was their opening match of the 2017 Rugby League World Cup.

“I don’t really have anything towards it, not disappointed or happy. Just happy to be here, proud to be a Kiwi and trying to get better here before I look anywhere else. Can we keep it about the game?” he told reporters.

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J
JW 1 hour ago
Everyone knows Robertson is not supposed to be doing the coaching

Yeah it’s not actually that I’m against the idea this is not good enough, I just don’t know whos responsible for the appalling selections, whether the game plan will work, whether it hasn’t worked because Razor has had too much input or too little input, and whether were better or worse for the coachs not making it work against themselves.

I think that’s the more common outlook rather than people panicking mate, I think they just want something to happen and that needs an outlet. For instance, yes, we were still far too good for most in even weaker areas like the scrum, but it’s the delay in the coaches seemingly admitting that it’s been dissapoint. How can they not see DURING THE GAME it didn’t go right and say it? What are they scared of? Do they think the estimation of the All Blacks will go down in peoples minds? And of course thats not a problem if it weren’t for the fact they don’t do any better the next game! And then they finally seem to see and things get better. I’ve had endless discussions with Chicken about what’s happening at half time, and the lack of any real change. That problem is momentum is consistent with their being NO progress through the year. The team does not improve. The lineout is improved and is good. The scrum is weak and stays weak. The misfires and stays misfiring. When is the new structure following Lancasters Leinster going to click?



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