Tuivasa-sheck’s rough Wellington run
At a glance
As bad runs go, Roger Tuivasasheck’s Wellington record is up there with one of the worst.
The New Zealand Warriors captain has played twice at Westpac Stadium in the nation’s capital.
The first was seven games into his Warriors career in 2016, when he suffered a season-ending torn ACL playing against the Bulldogs.
The second was in 2017 when he was part of the Kiwis team that suffered the ignominy of losing 4-2 to Fiji in the Rugby League World Cup quarterfinals.
So it wasn’t at all surprising that he was hoping for a more positive experience tonight when the Warriors take on the Cronulla Sharks.
‘‘I’ve had two games in Wellington and unfortunately they haven’t been real good games, so hopefully we get a win this weekend,’’ Tuivasa-sheck said.
The Warriors went on to win that 2016 game against the Bulldogs 24-20, but that was just their second win in nine attempts in Wellington.
Tuivasa-sheck said that didn’t have anything to do with the notoriously difficult playing conditions in windy Wellington.
‘‘We’ll get out there and test the conditions. That’s all part of the game now, at different stadiums there is something different. It’s an oval or a hill or something, you’ve just got to adapt to it and you can’t use it as an excuse.’’
The trip back to Wellington was a homecoming, of sorts, for Warriors coach Stephen Kearney.
His first junior club was the Kapiti Bears and he was pleased to receive a rousing kapa haka welcome at Wellington Airport from pupils of Brandon Intermediate in Cannons Creek, near Porirua, just down the line from Kearney’s Paraparaumu hometown.
‘‘It was wonderful. I asked the kids where they were from and they said out at Cannons Creek. I spent a fair bit of my childhood out there playing on a Saturday What:
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Where and when: Westpac Stadium, Wellington, tonight 8pm
Referees: Henry Perenara, Phil Henderson
Warriors: Roger Tuivasa-sheck, David Fusitu’a, Peta Hiku, Gerard Beale, Ken Maumalo, Kodi Nikorima, Blake Green, Agnatius Paasi, Issac Luke, Leeson Ah Mau, Adam Blair, Isaiah Papali’i, Jazz Tevaga. Interchange: Lachlan Burr, Sam Lisone, Bunty Afoa, Chanel Harristavita.
Sharks: Matt Moylan, Sosaia Feki, Bronson Xerri, Kurt Capewell, Aaron Gray, Shaun Johnson, Chad Townsend, Andrew Fifita, Jayden Brailey, Aaron Woods, Briton Nikora, Scott Sorensen, Paul Gallen. Interchange: Blayke Brailey, Jack Williams, Braden Hamlinuele, Matt Prior.
morning, so it was really nice to have that. It’s pretty special.’’
Kearney quipped his players were suspicious they had not landed in Wellington given the overhead conditions upon their arrival.
‘‘A few of the lads thought we had stopped off in Gisborne because the sun was out.
‘‘I said it’s always like that in Wellington. It’s always nice to come home. I have some family and friends coming to the game tomorrow.’’
While some of those family members would be in the crowd, getting face time with Kearney was another matter.
‘‘They’ve known me for a long time now, so they know not to bother me. They understand why I’m here. My mum and sister come up and see me a fair bit in Auckland, so while I’m here they leave me alone really.’’
As for the game, Kearney was also of the opinion that playing in Wellington should be no issue.
‘‘For me, it doesn’t matter where we play. It’s about making sure we put in the effort and work really hard for each other.
‘‘Regardless of who the opposition is or where you’re playing them, that shouldn’t matter.’’
Kearney was still waiting for Ken Maumalo to clear the concussion protocol, with a decision expected to be made on the winger today.