That’s a rumour Hansen likes
All right, the All Blacks will play the game. They’d welcome Kiwis and Warriors standout Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to the 15-man code in a heartbeat.
Why wouldn’t they? TuivasaSheck is a fabulous athlete and excellent footballer, and the path between rugby league and rugby union is well worn, as is the lane between the NRL and the All Blacks.
Brad Thorn and Sonny Bill Williams are two very, very good World Cup-winning All Blacks who cut their football teeth in the NRL. Ngani Laumape has come in off a decent stint with the Warriors to star for the Hurricanes, and eventually break into Steve Hansen’s national squad in 2017.
Matt Duffie is the latest convert, switching to rugby after a half-dozen years with the Melbourne Storm in the NRL, and getting the callup to this All Blacks November touring squad at the tail end of year two of his 15-a-side career.
Now Tuivasa-Sheck’s name has been raised, perhaps mischievously, perhaps not, as someone who might also be considering a switch to rugby, and taking a run at the All Blacks.
Tuivasa-Sheck is about to play for the Kiwis in their tilt at the league World Cup in New Zealand and Australia over the next month or so, but has just one more year to run on his Warriors deal and is permitted to speak to other parties from Wednesday.
An Australia media report has suggested that rugby is an option that appeals to him.
All Blacks coach Hansen, who assembled with the bulk of his side at Auckland airport yesterday ahead of departure that night for their end-of-year tour north, admitted the talented fullback would be a quality addition to rugby, should he opt to take that route.
Hansen said he had not spoken to Tuivasa-Sheck, but admitted ‘‘I like the rumour’’.
He added: ‘‘If he comes to rugby he’d be a good player, I think. One of the franchises would be quite happy to pick him up. A good athlete will make the transition, you’ve just got to give them time.’’
The feeling is Tuivasa-Sheck isn’t serious about a rugby switch, and that the report is either a beatup or a timely factor in the negotiation process for his next contract.
But just in case there is a smidgeon of interest, he would appear to have the All Blacks’ attention.