Hansen encourages RTS switch
Tuivasa- Sheck’s agent plays down report but All Blacks coach warms to idea of conversion
Even as Roger Tuivasa- Sheck’s agent dismissed suggestions of a code switch, All Blacks coach Steve Hansen said he was open to the idea of the Kiwis fullback coming to rugby.
Reports out of Sydney raised the prospect of Tuivasa- Sheck moving from league to union when his Warriors contract finishes at the end of next year’s NRL season.
Growing up in Auckland, TuivasaSheck made the New Zealand schools union team but went on to play a starring role for the Premiership- winning Roosters before joining the Warriors last year.
The 24- year- old has long spoken of his desire to potentially return to union one day, and in reports this week, his agent Bruce Sharrock indicated a move was a strong possibility.
A Sydney Morning Herald story, quoting Sharrock, claimed TuivasaSheck was “in talks” about a switch to rugby. But Sharrock told the Weekend Herald it was an inaccurate and misleading report.
“It was out of context, not accurate, twisted,” Sharrock said. “The fact of the matter is there will be no discussions entered into around Roger’s future for at least three months, at the earliest, and his immediate focus is to see what he can do with the Warriors in 2018.
“I’m not going to deny that we have talked about rugby together in the past,” said Sharrock. “But at the moment, we are not talking about anything. He has got a Rugby League World Cup to get through, then a preseason with the Warriors. Until we get through those periods, we are not talking about our future.”
Hansen has not spoken to Tuivasa- Sheck but encouraged him to make the switch.
“No, I haven’t, but I like the rumour,” Hansen said before departing on the All Blacks’ end of year tour. “If he comes over to rugby, he’d be a good player, I think. One of the franchises could pick him up and be quite handy.”
While there would naturally be an adjustment period, on face value, his ability under the high ball and broken field running would find a happy home in union.
Sonny Bill Williams, Brad Thorn, Matt Duffie, Ngani Laumape, Israel Folau and Karmichael Hunt are just a few examples of league players to make the successful switch in recent times.
“There’s plenty of people that have done it,” said Hansen. “A good athlete will make the transition, you’ve just got to give them time.”
All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara, who re- signed with New Zealand Rugby through to 2021 yesterday, also had no doubts Tuivasa- Sheck would handle the move.
“Everyone sees how he plays league. He’s a freak,” Perenara said. “He could play any sport, I reckon. He could come to rugby and probably be very, very good.”
Hansen also revealed All Blacks rookie Jack Goodhue had been ruled out of the first match of the tour against the Barbarians next week at Twickenham due to sickness.
Anton Lienert- Brown, originally scheduled to spend the week at home, has replaced Goodhue, who will instead link up with the team in the second week ahead of the opening test in Paris.
It i s a disappointing blow for Goodhue. The Northland and Crusaders midfielder was certain to be involved, and possibly start at centre, against the Baabaas.
“You can’t help illness, you’ve just got to deal with it,” Hansen said.
On a more positive note, Hansen was pleased Julian Savea will square off against the All Blacks after being called up to the Baabaas squad. Savea was overlooked for the All Blacks — partly due to the fact his wife will have a baby mid- tour — but he will still be keen to prove a point.
“It’s exciting for him. This is what we wanted for him to be able to go away and enjoy his rugby again and get some things like this. If he had been with us, he wouldn’t have been able to do that. It’s a good opportunity for him to enjoy — it’s always a good occasion.”