Uncertainty surrounds the futures of key Warriors trio
Retaining the services of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck may be the Warriors’ top priority but he is not the only high-profile player at Mt Smart with a big decision to make.
The Warriors have 13 players off contract at the end of the season and of those, the main interest will centre on Tuivasa-Sheck, Issac Luke and Simon Mannering.
While Tuivasa-Sheck’s manager rubbished reports this week that the Warriors captain had signed with New Zealand Rugby and the Blues, his background in the 15-man game means rumours of a code switch will not go away.
At the same time, Australian NRL clubs are lining up to entice him back across the Tasman.
The Rabbitohs and Titans have previously been linked with the Kiwis fullback. And reports from Australia this week suggested the Wests Tigers were set to enter the race for his signature.
The Warriors have taken a gamble keeping Tuivasa-Sheck on as captain considering that he may up and leave at the end of the year.
Yet it goes to show just how important they see him to their future.
It is hard to say the same thing about Luke, who arrived at the club along with Tuivasa-Sheck in 2016.
Arguably behind only Cameron Smith as the best hooker in the game when he left the Rabbitohs, there is no doubt he has failed to live up to expectations.
In fairness, Luke has not had the luxury of playing behind the powerful forward packs he enjoyed at Souths and with the Kiwis. But the things he can control, such as fitness and attitude, have come under question.
By all accounts Luke has benefited from a full pre-season after being dropped from the Kiwis World Cup squad last year, and he still shapes as the club’s best hooking option.
But he has plenty to prove heading into the new season and it would be a surprise if the Warriors rushed into re-signing the 30-yearold.
Even if he does rediscover his best form, the chances of Luke receiving the same lucrative contract that lured him home appears unlikely, particularly if Nathaniel Roache makes a full recovery from a ruptured Achilles or Manaia Cherrington – who showed so much promise early in his career – can kick on.
Mannering, meanwhile, is in a completely different situation.
One of the Warriors’ greatest servants, he is poised to become the first player to play 300 games for the club this season, barring injury.
It is understood the 31-year-old will wait to see how the season unfolds before making a decision and there are several factors that need to be considered.
The tireless back-rower has put his body through an enormous amount of strain during his 280 appearances for the Warriors across 13 seasons.
Then there is the mental toll of carrying the under-performing side through the tumultuous last few years.
No-one has given as much to the club as Mannering and another poor season could prove to be the tipping point.
On the flip side, the arrival of Adam Blair and Tohu Harris should help lessen his workload on the field as well as strengthen the club’s leadership group.
And if the Warriors do show signs of significant improvement it could leave Mannering refreshed to keep going.
There are several examples of players in similar positions playing well into their 30s.
Fellow workhorse Corey Parker was 34 when he retired from the Broncos in 2016, while Paul Gallen is still running around for the Sharks, despite turning 37 in August. Few would doubt Mannering’s ability to do likewise.