Dally M winner Tuivasa-Sheck ‘super proud’ of club

SYDNEY: Roger TuivasaSheck is confident a knee injury will not hinder his preparations for the 2019 NRL season as he looks to build on his Dally M success at the Warriors.

The Kiwi fullback was ruled out of New Zealand’s tour of England after undergoing minor surgery this month, but he remains hopeful he will have a full preseason following the injury.

TuivasaSheck is the first Warrior to win the gong. He led the club to its first finals series in seven years this season.

He was ‘‘gutted I’m going to miss out on wearing the black jersey this year’’ and his focus was now on the preseason with the Warriors, he said after winning the medal on Wednesday night.

‘‘I’m just super proud of the club and where we’ve gone to.

‘‘There is a lot of improvement we can take and the next step we want to take. Just proud we can take this back to Auckland and show the friends and family there.’’

The 25yearold polled 29 votes this season to win by two points from Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga.

After he was presented the award by Australia Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Johnathan Thurston, fellow Kiwis Issac Luke, Jordan Rapana, Jazz Tevaga and Jamayne Isaako led an impromptu haka.

‘‘That’s just crazy. Where I’m from, back in New Zealand, this

is a special moment for me,’’ TuivasaSheck said.

‘‘Back home when something happens, the haka is performed to bring up a special occasion and just to be receiving one is a big honour.

‘‘To have Bully [Issac Luke], a close friend of mine, do it for me and a close group of friends there was truly special for me.’’

With his partner back home in New Zealand with his young child, TuivasaSheck was joined by his father Jonny for the night and the pair embraced on the stage after the awards were presented.

‘‘My dad, even though he was a bit quiet tonight, he gives some pretty honest feedback and sometimes I want to block his number because they keep coming,’’ the Warriors fullback said.

‘‘But that’s because he wants to pick up small areas in my game and wants to help me improve me every day. He’s fully into it and I love him for it.’’ — AAP

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Roger TuivasaSheck, of the New Zealand Warriors, on stage after being announced as the Dally M Award winner in Sydney on Wednesday night.

PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Time to celebrate . . . Issac Luke and Jazz Tevaga, of the Warriors, perform a haka for teammate Roger TuivasaSheck after he received the Dally M Award.