Tuivasa-Sheck backs Savea to shine
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck believes Ardie Savea will be a great success in rugby league and wishes he was coming to the Warriors.
The All Black shocked the rugby world this week by saying he wanted to switch codes.
Many years ago Warriors captain Tuivasa-Scheck was in the same New Zealand Secondary Schools rugby team as Savea, along with players like Ngani Laumape and Patrick Tuipulotu.
But while Tuivasa-Sheck moved onto a life in league he’s followed Savea’s career and believes he’s got the skillset to be a great league player.
‘‘He’s just a champion Tuivasa-Sheck said.
‘‘He’ll kill it if he made his way
athlete,’’ across here, I truly believe that.
‘‘He’s just someone who challenges himself each time and he’s always looking forward to a new challenge.
‘‘If he does, I wish him all the best. Hopefully he comes here.’’
Unfortunately for TuivasaSheck, Savea has already said he wanted to go to an NRL club where there had been sustained success and has mentioned the Storm and Roosters.
However, if he did follow through on his plan to move to league then no doubt the Warriors would join other clubs in making an offer for him.
Savea has also said he’d be looking to play international football for Samoa in the 13-mancode, so wouldn’t be joining Tuivasa-Sheck in the Kiwis team.
But Tuivasa-Sheck, who was born in Samoa, said it would be great if Savea chose to play for that nation.
‘‘That would be awesome, for a senior player to go over there,’’ Tuivasa-Sheck said.
‘‘[He’s] Someone who could lift it for the boys over there. It’d be awesome.’’
Tuivasa-Sheck will make his first appearance in a pre-season fixture this weekend, when the Warriors take on West Tigers in Rotorua on Sunday.
Newcastle chief Philip Gardner admits he is a ‘‘desperate suitor’’ trying to lock down Kalyn Ponga and believes NRL rivals Brisbane are a bigger threat than the All Blacks.
Ponga is off contract at Newcastle the end of next year and will therefore become a free agent to NRL clubs on November 1, with the Knights eager to lock him down.
Reports emerged this week that the club had offered a fouryear $4.5 million contract upgrade to Ponga, which would include a player option for the 2023 season.
That would leave the door open for Ponga to walk out on the NRL and pursue his dream of playing for the All Blacks with a shot at the 2023 World Cup.
But Gardner said the ball was in the court of Ponga and his father Andre – who acts as his agent – to agree to the length of any extension that could include an upgrade for 2020 and 2021.
‘‘I’m probably an example of a desperate suitor,’’ Gardner said.
‘‘When you look at the big clubs with the money who can splash out, certainly the Broncos would be a club,’’ Gardner said.
‘‘I think they’re a bigger threat, rather than the All Blacks.’’
Ponga has spoken about his desire to play for the All Blacks, having grown up playing rugby in his junior days.