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Opinion
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s return to rugby league is great news for the Warriors and a boost for the NRL but in the grand scheme of things, it’s little more than a simple case of a professional athlete deciding what’s best for their career.
It’s not a major body blow for rugby union or any such sign that league is better, more exciting or whatever other adjective the precious NRL types would have you believe.
The All Blacks’ chances of winning a fourth World Cup in France won’t live or die on whether their third choice inside centre is in form, or in fact even in the touring squad.
And it’s appropriate in the midst of the NRL’s increasingly commercialised Anzac Round that everyone remembers there is no war between the rugby codes happening right now.
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Rugby Australia, after a decade-plus of being unable to compete for the signatures of code-hopping stars, has simply got its books in order after some anxious moments during the pandemic and using its projected windfalls from a few marquee events on the horizon to bolster its playing ranks here and there.
Roger Tuivasa-Scheck. (Photo by Joe Allison/Getty Images)
Signing young Roosters prodigy Joseph Suaalii was a momentous move as he has the talent and schoolboy pedigree to succeed in Wallabies gold even if the price tag was a little steep.
But as great as he could be during the timeframe of his contract from 2025-27, he is not a first-choice fullback at his club, he is probably the third or fourth choice NSW winger when all players are available and wouldn’t crack the Australian 17 if and when their next Test is announced.
There is something inherently noxious about much of the commentary surrounding Suaalii’s switch, Tuivasa-Sheck’s comeback and all the mutterings about the likes of Payne Haas, Cameron Murray, Tolu Koula and Will Penisini being in the sights of the cashed-up rugby administrators in the lead-up to Australia hosting the British & Irish Lions tour of 2025 and the World Cup in 2027.
Anyone who lived through the Wallabies’ golden era of the late 1990s and early 2000s will know that many NRL free agents will be linked to a “shock bombshell dramatic” switch to rugby.
Some, like Mat Rogers, Wendell Sailor and Lote Tuqiri a generation ago will make the leap. Others, like Mark Gasnier, Nathan Blacklock, Timana Tahu, will have a brief flirtation while many like Andrew Johns and Braith Anasta will seriously consider a move before staying in the league ranks.
What’s the big deal?
Player managers are like real estate agents – they will auction off their property to any interested bidder because it will drive up the market value and in turn, their cut of the final contract.
The pearl clutching about rugby raiding the league ranks is laughable.
Between now and the 2027 World Cup the number of NRL players who hope codes will be no more than a handful, as in five or less.
The NRL talent pool has proved this year that, despite dire predictions about the Dolphins, there are enough players to sustain the expansion that brings 30 new roster spots.
There are many quality first-graders right now who can’t get a game because the depth at their respective club is so strong.
Have a look through the reserves benches for this round and you will see players who are NRL standard like Sharks duo Connor Tracey and Braydon Trindall, Broncos forward Keenan Palasia, Roosters hooker Jake Turpin, Tyran Wishart and Aaron Pene at the Storm, and even at the winless Wests Tigers where David Nofoaluma can’t get a start.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck (Photo by Tony Feder/Getty Images)
Tuivasa-Sheck took a gamble by leaving the relative safety of being Warriors fullback and captain to try his luck with the All Blacks.
It was apparent from the start that he didn’t leave himself much of a runway to break into the first-choice line-up, making the switch with just under two years before the World Cup.
Despite having a background in rugby as a teenager, it’s never an easy transition to make and in case you are unaware, the strength of the All Blacks over the past couple of decades has been more about who can’t get a jersey on a regular basis.
He’s just like the many administrators who will happily take a pay cheque from either rugby code if it’s in the best interests of their career, although you don’t hear much from them about disloyalty when they do so.
What his return means for the Warriors is they have a surefire marquee recruit coming on board next year to build on what looks like a massive bounce-back season in 2023 if the 5-2 start to the year is not a mirage under new coach Andrew Webster.
“Andrew and the club’s success definitely played a role in it,” he told media on Friday.
“The way they are playing helped. (My family) want to be home, we love it here in Auckland and I want my kids to be running around with their cousins, so that was the first option,” he added when asked whether he could have sealed a deal with an Australian-based NRL club.
Warriors coach Andrew Webster. (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)
On the comeback trail from a hand injury which has disrupted his Super Rugby campaign with the Blues over the past month, he said he was satisfied with getting three Tests with the All Blacks
“So far, I’ve been pretty happy with my time in rugby,” he said. “I got to fulfil a childhood dream by pulling on the black jersey. The only frustrating part has been the injuries.
“It was exciting and it was a challenge. I was going up against David Havili, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane – those players are superstars and I was just lucky to rub shoulders with them.
“There was no frustration, as an athlete I enjoy the challenge of competing against the best.
“I’m coming away with a new outlook and there are things I can potentially take back and ways I can improve my game.”