Speculation grows over future of ex-warrior

Roger Tuivasa-sheck has been linked with a bombshell return to the Sydney Roosters as his path to regular game time with the All Blacks continues to be blocked.

The Dally M winner’s switch to rugby has been a success overall, earning two test caps off the bench after helping the Blues reach the Super Rugby Pacific final.

But the second five-eighth’s Rugby World Cup dream remains very much up in the air following Jordie Barrett’s outstanding performance at Eden Park and Anton Lienert-brown’s imminent return from a long-term shoulder injury.

David Havili wore No 12 for much of the Rugby Championship but the door appeared to creak open for Tuivasa-sheck when he was ruled out of Saturday’s test against the Wallabies with concussion.

But instead of giving TuivasaSheck his starting shot, All Blacks coach Ian Foster opted to switch fullback Barrett to the midfield, which proved a smash hit.

It leaves Tuivasa-sheck as the fourth-choice second-five when all players are available.

‘‘Little whisper is that there is a contract on the table for Roger Tuivasa-sheck back at the Roosters,’’ All Blacks legend Sir John Kirwan told Sky Sport’s The Breakdown.

‘‘We’re just running out of time, so I want to see Roger get a decent crack ... the northern tour, he probably shouldn’t play against Japan, we need to see him against Scotland or Wales where it’s a big test match.

‘‘What I’ve noticed is that our kicking game, our short kicking game, our manipulative attacking game, has now gone to the foot of 12, so he’s going to have to show us that on the northern tour as well, that kicking game. We know he can step.

‘‘It’s a timing issue, I mean I hope he doesn’t go back to the Roosters, I hope he stays for a few more years yet.’’

Another Kiwi great, Jeff Wilson, agreed that NRL clubs would be circling.

‘‘That’d be disappointing if that’s the case,’’ Wilson said.

‘‘I can understand there’d be frustration around this. We certainly haven’t seen the best of him on a rugby field yet because he hasn’t had the opportunity.

‘‘But like you say, time is running out and where do those opportunities lie?’’

Tuivasa-sheck’s status is a hot topic in New Zealand and World Cup winner Israel Dagg told Senz radio the former Warrior needed to change positions to stand a chance of nailing down a regular black jersey.

‘‘I don’t think he stands anywhere in the midfield,’’ Dagg, a former winger/fullback said.

‘‘He’s had time there with the Blues, we’ve seen glimpses, but ... I’d just love to see him go onto the wing. He is fantastic in the air, which is a huge factor of playing on the wing

‘‘Defensively, I think he’d be outstanding on the wing. His edge defence would be world-class, his talk wouldn’t be a problem and speed and footwork is the biggest asset he offers. When Roger Tuivasa-sheck came back to New Zealand, that’s the first thing that sprung to my mind – seeing this bloke in open space, breaking ankles left, right and centre. I was like, ‘wow’. At the moment at 12, he’s not able to do that.

- Nine’s Wide World of Sports

‘‘I hope he doesn’t go back to the Roosters, I hope he stays for a few more years yet.’’ Sir John Kirwan