JTS plays starring role off the field
JOHNNY Tuivasa-Sheck has not given up on his NRL dream but, if things do not work out, he already has Plan B sorted.
While Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been carving up defences for the Warriors, his younger brother has proven to be just as entertaining in his off-field Mt Smart role.
Johnny has combined a second-tier playing contract with a position in the club’s fan engagement department, where his film skills have come to the fore.
The 22-year-old’s hilarious skits had already earned him a large following on social media. Now he using his creativity and sense of humour to give Warriors media a real point of difference.
‘‘At first I did it because I enjoyed it, it took my mind off footy and now I’ve seen it turn into it’s own brand,’’ the younger Tuivasa-Sheck told Stuff.
‘‘I’m still chasing that (NRL) dream, but because it’s my passion doing the media thing doesn’t really feel like work. So I’m just having fun.’’
The Warriors had to gain approval from the NRL for Tuivasa-Sheck to play for the club’s reserve grade team this year and he was due to make his second appearance yesterday.
A call-up to first grade in 2018 is not completely out of the question for the former Roosters under-20s winger, but it would take a special set of circumstances for that to occur.
Tuivasa-Sheck knows it is unlikely but is grateful to the Warriors for giving him the chance to pursue both career paths.
‘‘The club was like, ‘ OK Johnny, we love the media side of you and we still understand that you want to give footy a go’,’’ he said. ‘‘So this year is about me trying to prove to Stephen Kearney that I still want to have a good crack at the NRL and I’m still going to try my best.
‘‘The Warriors’ staff is there to support me, both footy and the media side. They respect the schedule and they know it’s hard but they have made it really easy.’’
Surprisingly, Johnny wasn’t always comfortable in front of the camera – he dreaded it when he first started at the Roosters.
But well aware that dealing with the media is part of life as a professional athlete, he decided to do something about it.
‘‘It started because I was so bad. I sucked in interviews in front of cameras. So I went and saw the Roosters media team and they said the best way to practice is being in front of a camera and doing your own thing.
‘‘So I pulled out my sister’s camera and started making videos and here I amtoday, loving and enjoying it.’’
Just like with his football, Tuivasa-Sheck is continuously trying to improve his skills in front of, and behind, the camera. He has taken a number of courses, ranging from film and presenting to grammar.
Some of his recent videos includes a light-hearted dig at the ‘‘day one’’ fans who suddenly emerged after the Warriors’ round one win over the Rabbitohs. That was made for his personal social media channels which the club ended up sharing. PHOTOSPORT
Tuivasa-Sheck had his work cut out getting the players to use their best Irish accents for a St Patrick’s Day-themed clip.
And he admitted some are much more cooperative when the cameras are around than others.
‘‘Anthony Gelling’s a natural in front of the camera and Hayze Perham put on a great Irish accent. Simon Mannering won’t say anything because he already sounds like batman,’’ TuivasaSheck joked. ‘‘And you will not catch Tohu Harris doing any of it. Whenever he sees me he just tells me to go away – he knows what I’m coming for.’’
Since returning from Sydney at the end of last year, Johnny has lived with Roger and has relished reuniting with his brother.
Johnny was a constant sounding board for the Warriors skipper recently as he weighed up his options before re-committing to the club for a further four years.
‘‘At home that’s all we would talk about,’’ he said.
‘‘He hates making moves without the family knowing so we’d have family meetings all the time about what’s best for him and what he can do. But he now he just seems a lot more happier around home.’’
‘ It started because I was so bad.’ JOHNNY TUIVASA-SHECK