Rugby league will welcome home a prodigal son in 2024, with cross-code superstar Roger Tuivasa-Sheck set to return home to the New Zealand Warriors on a multi-year deal.
After dominating in the 13-man code across stints with both the Roosters and Warriors, including a premiership victory and Dally M Medal, the fleet-footed fullback moved across to rugby union in a bid to become a dual international.
While his dream of representing the All Blacks did come true, making three appearances in the famous jumper, his time in the sport was mixed at best, with his form in the NRL failing to translate to Super Rugby.
Tuivasa-Sheck will come back into a very different Warriors team that he left at the end of 2021, with the emergence of the club as a genuine premiership force under Andrew Webster likely to change the returning star's role.
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What position will Roger Tuivasa-Sheck play for the Warriors?
At this stage, there has been no confirmation regarding what position Tuivasa-Sheck will play next year, but the widespread belief is that he will slot in to the centres and allow Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad to remain in the No.1 jersey.
The 30-year-old broke into the top grade with the Roosters as a winger, playing 66 times in that position, before predominantly featuring at fullback for the remainder of his NRL journey.
Despite the likelihood of him lining up at centre, Tuivasa-Sheck has never started in the role in first grade and would have to learn the tricks of the trade, including defensive combinations and all-important one-on-one defence.
Tuivasa-Sheck previously captained the Warriors during his six-season tenure, CEO Cameron George reiterated on SEN Radio that he will not be thrust back into a leadership role.
“He was clear to us during the course of deciding that he wanted to come back that he didn’t want to be a nuisance or a distraction, coming in as the former captain," he said.
"He’s been very deliberate in making sure that he’s a part of the squad, not a leader of the squad.
“He’s been great for our young kids; he started day one with them. Naturally, his standards have been imposed on all the kids which has been an amazing experience for them.
"We’re very excited to have him back.”
Home. 💙 pic.twitter.com/yFziwU8QAN
— One NZ Warriors (@NZWarriors) November 22, 2023
Tuivasa-Sheck has returned to training in recent weeks with the Warriors and will become an integral part of the squad in the coming years, with his contract running through until the end of 2026.
New Zealand Warriors 2024 predicted team
1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak
3. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
4. Rocco Berry
5. Marcelo Montoya
6. Luke Metcalf
7. Shaun Johnson
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Wayde Egan
10. Mitch Barnett
11. Marata Niukore
12. Jackson Ford
13. Tohu Harris
14. Chanel Harris-Tavita
15. Dylan Walker
16. Bunty Afoa
17. Tom Ale
