Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will join the Blues in 2022. Photo / Getty Images
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will join the Blues in 2022. Photo / Getty Images
OPINION:
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has taken the first step toward realising his childhood dream of representing the All Blacks - and not a moment too soon.
For the past decade, the 27-year-old has been performing at a high level week after week in the NRL on his way to becoming oneof the best league players in the world.
But, at a time where the Warriors have put together what, on paper, is a highly competitive team for the next few years, Tuivasa-Sheck will walk away from the club at the end of the 2021 season to join New Zealand Rugby and the Blues on a two-year deal.
"It has been a dream of mine for a long time to one day play rugby union again, to get this opportunity with New Zealand Rugby, the Blues and Auckland is exciting. The timing feels right to do this now," he said.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been consistently impressive in his time with the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images
Like many, if not all, Kiwi rugby players, Tuivasa-Sheck grew up with the hope of one day representing the country on the biggest stage. To have any hope of doing so, Tuivasa-Sheck had to make the move now.
The next Rugby World Cup will be held in 2023, at which point he will be 30 years old and likely heading toward the twilight of his playing career.
While there has been no real indication of where New Zealand Rugby and the Blues see Tuivasa-Sheck spending the majority of his time on the pitch, it is sure to be in the back five, given he has played on the wing and in the midfield at age-grade levels.
Across the past four Rugby World Cups, the All Blacks have only selected back-five players aged 30 or older seven times, and a player aged 34 just once. Those players were legends of the game: Ben Smith, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Mils Muliaina, Ryan Crotty, and Sonny Bill Williams – who was selected in 2015 at 30 and again in 2019 at 34.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will join the Blues in 2022. Photo / Getty Images
Tuivasa-Sheck will need time to get his head around the game and not just jump straight in to the deep end if he's hoping to reach the highest level. Spots in the All Blacks are already competitive enough without a player like Tuivasa-Sheck being available to them, and while it's an added bonus, the bums-on-seats factor of an individual doesn't come into play for the All Blacks.
When he makes his return, be it in late 2021 with Auckland or with the Blues in 2022, Blues coach Leon MacDonald admitted Tuivasa-Sheck will have some catching up to do. After all, the game has changed since he was last competing in it.
"Even just the terminology is different," MacDonald explained. "It'll be like being back at school for him for the first little while and it will take a bit to get playing free without thinking.
"I think that's the big thing; when you're thinking you're a little bit slow. Once it becomes instinctive that's when you're going to see him at his best, and that's going to take time.
"He's taking a big risk leaving a game he's quite comfortable in and excelling at to give it a go. You've got to admire the guy for putting himself out there like he has. He's going to come in doing everything he can to be successful."
Tuivasa-Sheck has already given 10 years of his career to league, achieving almost all there is to do so in the sport. He's timed his move back to union perfectly, to allow himself time to learn the modern game before what could be a make-or-break campaign in 2023.
