Roosters will fight to stop star flying coop

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck surprised many with his decision to sign with the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Warriors fans beware - the Roosters will be doing everything they can to have Roger Tuivasa-Sheck reverse his decision to return to Auckland next season.

The announcement of his intention to leave Sydney took many people by surprise, including me.

Yes, I'm disappointed he's leaving my old joint, but I have a couple of concerns about his possible arrival at the Warriors.

The first is that the Roosters still have a couple of months to convince him to stay.

Remember James Tedesco? He was set to join Canberra this season but then had a change of heart a couple of weeks later and stayed with the Tigers.

Tuivasa-Sheck has been hand-picked by the Roosters to replace Anthony Minichiello at fullback. In the meantime, they played him on the wing just to get him in the team.

They have worked hard to mould him into the player we see and will not let him go without a fight.

My second concern is that the Warriors are replacing an extra playmaker in Sam Tomkins with an explosive ball runner who can find holes where there don't appear to be any.

Tuivasa-Sheck is the running fullback they lack in Tomkins, who doesn't have the power or guile of the likes of Greg Inglis, Brett Morris, Josh Dugan, Matt Moylan or Tedesco when returning the ball from the back.

Tomkins rarely breaks the line from a kick return, failing to mount pressure back on the opposition, something Tuivasa-Sheck would provide.

Releasing Tomkins with a year left on his contract is my next concern. All because he's homesick? Will the next player feeling unsettled in New Zealand be allowed to go? I don't think so.

The clubs should have just said Tomkins was released so they had the chance to sign a possible superstar who also happens to be a local boy, rather than use homesickness as an excuse.

The Warriors should also not sanction Tomkins' return to England until Tuivasa-Sheck's move is confirmed.

Just when the Warriors were establishing a multi-playmaker attacking threat including Shaun Johnson, Chad Townsend, Thomas Leuluai and Tomkins, they now intend to alter this in 2016.

A player like Tuimoala Lolohea could be an option, but from what position if Tuivasa-Sheck is at fullback?

The dynamics within the team are changing. Will the way they play transform as well? Only time will tell, but until Tuivasa-Sheck's signature is on a Warriors contract lodged with the NRL, nobody should take for granted that he will be at the club next season.