Ex-skipper urges Warriors to swap RTS to fullback
Former Kiwis rugby league captain Adam Blair has urged Warriors coach Andrew Webster to shift Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to fullback from centre, believing it would give the ex-All Black more chances to shatter opposition defensive lines.
Tuivasa-Sheck, who has returned to the Auckland-based NRL club after two years playing rugby, started in the No 4 jersey for the Warriors in their opening games against Cronulla Sharks and the Melbourne Storm.
Although Tuivasa-Sheck – who made three appearances for the All Blacks in 2022 but was unable to convince then-coach Ian Foster to pick him for the World Cup in France last year – has hardly been off the boil for the Warriors during their narrow losses in the first two rounds, the topic of whether he should switch to fullback remains a popular one among fans.
Blair, speaking on a Stuff podcast after the 16-12 defeat to the Sharks in Auckland in their first game of the season, said he would like to see Tuivasa-Sheck moved into the No 1 jersey to allow him to use his ball-running skills to cut defences to ribbons.
“Let’s do it now while we have the chance to, just to see how he goes. I don’t think the structure of how the Warriors played last year fits the structure of what Roger is good at, which is beating defenders.
“One-on-one stuff, yes, at times is going to work, but a lot of the centres are really good at defending. So get the best team on the field and let’s not make changes halfway through the season and go ‘the centre didn’t work for Roger, we should have put him at fullback from the start of the year’.
“You have got the opportunity now, let's try and see what it looks like.’’
Playing to Tuivasa-Sheck's strengths was key, said Blair. His ability to quickly get himself into space and beat tacklers with his footwork were what many opposition teams feared when they kicked the ball in his direction.
Rather than using him for one-out carries off the play-the-ball, Blair believed TuivasaSheck would offer more if in the back field.
Taine Tuaupiki started at fullback against the Sharks and the Storm because Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad was recovering from a hamstring injury; but even if the latter were fit, Blair reckoned Tuivasa-Sheck would be a better option.
He noted how the Roosters give their star centre Joey Manu the ball early to allow him to use his flick pass, which Tuivasa-Sheck can also do, but Blair wasn’t sure he should be used to cart the ball up the middle of the park.
“I don’t know if that fits the systems and structures of the Warriors,’’ Blair said.
“I think we see the Penrith Panthers run a few drop-backs through the middle, they did that in the grand final as well, where they are challenging the middle players on making sure they are keeping them honest.''