RTS happy at home despite hard year

It is fair to say Roger TuivasaSheck’s move to New Zealand has not gone to plan so far.

Thrust into the captaincy after his first season at the Warriors was ruined by injury, Tuivasa-Sheck now finds himself trying to avoid presiding over a club-record losing streak while his former teammates at the Roosters gear up for another tilt at the NRL title.

After that experience, you could hardly blame the man if he was beginning to rue his decision to leave the powerful Sydney outfit, where he won the 2013 grand final as well three-straight minor premierships.

But the ever-upbeat 24-year-old fullback has no regrets. Not about joining the Warriors nor about taking on the captaincy. And given the big decision he has to make next year, that would be music to the club’s ears.

Off contract at the end of the 2018 season, Tuivasa-Sheck has to decide whether he wants to continue what he has started with the Warriors or head back to Australia. His background in rugby, he represented the New Zealand Schoolboys alongside Ardie Savea, also means a code switch will always be an option.

With the Warriors’ end-ofseason review and, all going well, the World Cup to focus on first, Tuivasa-Sheck is holding off the contract talk but admits he has some thinking to do.

‘‘I’m happy for those guys (Roosters), they have an awesome team and good coaching staff,’’ When I fall back to what I do it goes well for me. Tuivasa-Sheck told Stuff. ‘‘I’ve enjoyed it coming here, I’m still loving the opportunity that I get to play and lead a team here.

‘‘At the moment I’m happy where I am and I’m happy with what’s going on here, just growing with what we have in front of us and what Jim (Doyle, Warriors executive chairman) has planned.

‘‘I’m just going to play out my last game and then really sit down and go through the pros and cons game with my manager.’’

Having made him one of the youngest captains in the NRL, it is obvious how highly Warriors coach Stephen Kearney values his fullback.

There were always bound to be some growing pains but the 12-test Kiwi international feels he has found what works best for him.

‘‘Not worrying about other players is the biggest lesson I’ve taken out of it,’’ he said. ‘‘I remember at the start of the year I spoke about going in as a captain that likes to lead with his actions and making sure I get myself right. And during the year I thought I fell off that by making sure that everyone was on task, what’s this player doing, what’s that player doing and I forgot about myself. That’s where I let my performance down. It has been challenging at times but when I fall back to what I do it goes well for me.’’