‘It’s massive’: Why All Black Roger Tuivasa-Sheck chose NRL over rugby union

Blues and All Blacks midfielder Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has opened up about his decision to leave rugby union after signing with the New Zealand Warriors on a three-year deal.

The Blues, Warriors and Tuivasa-Sheck confirmed on Thursday that the 29-year-old had signed with his former club ahead of the 2024 National Rugby League season.

Tuivasa-Sheck made his name in the 13-player game, and will go down as one of the greatest players in the history of New Zealand Rugby League.

After starring for both the Blues under-18s and New Zealand Schoolboys in rugby union, Tuivasa-Sheck decided to pursue an opportunity across the Tasman with the Sydney Roosters.

The side-stepping speedster went on to win an NRL premiership with the Tricolours, before returning to New Zealand with the Warriors ahead of the 2016 season.

Tuivasa-Sheck went on to win the Dally M medal in 2018, and was crowned the competitions Captain of the Year a couple of years later.

From next season, the dual international will look to add to his unprecedented legacy in the NRL after inking a deal with his old club.

The Warriors are currently fourth on the NRL ladder, which Tuivasa-Sheck admitted “definitely played a role” in his decision to leave rugby union.

“Andrew (Webster) and the club’s success at the moment definitely played a role in it,” Tuivasa-Sheck told reporters.

“Those are Warriors and rugby league details I’ll get to later on in the year.

“But I’d like to say the way the club are playing definitely helped in the decision-making.”

Harbouring ambitions of donning the coveted black jersey in rugby union, Tuivasa-Sheck put pen to paper with the Blues and New Zealand Rugby in 2021.

Not many players have jumped codes and succeed – certainly not to the level that many expected of Tuivasa-Sheck ahead of first Super Rugby Pacific campaign last year.

Following a legendary career in the NRL, many expected Tuivasa-Sheck to star at both Super Rugby and Test level.

But, at least so far, the Samoan-born talent hasn’t quite hit the mark.

While he made his Test debut against Ireland last year, Tuivasa-Sheck failed to cement his place in the All Blacks.

With this year’s Rugby World Cup in France just around the corner, the NRL-convert is running out of time to push his case for selection.

Following a somewhat anti-climactic first season in professional rugby, rumours began to swirl about Tuivasa-Sheck’s potential return to the NRL.

NRL premiership winner Bryan Fletcher believed a return to the Roosters was on the cards, while the All Black had also been linked with a move to The Dolphins.

Recently, a Sydney Morning Herald report said Tuivasa-Sheck was apparently leaning towards a move to Japan Rugby league One over the NRL.

Clearly, a lot can change in a few weeks.

Tuivasa-Sheck said there was an opportunity for him to head overseas, but he decide to secure his future by putting his family first.

“We were pretty fortunate that we had interest off-shore but the first thing we decided is that we want to be at home,” he added.

“We love it here in Auckland and we love New Zealand. I want my kids to run around with their cousins and grow up in this lifestyle.

“That was the first choice and I’m glad that I’m staying home and that my future is secured here in New Zealand.

“It’s massive with family.

“As I’ve grown up… I’ve played to make my parents proud. Now that I’m a parent myself… I play to make my kids proud. I play to feed my kids, and that’s what I do now.

"Securing a long-term deal back home is really important to me and I’m really blessed that I can do that.”

The Blues started their season with a dominant 40-point win over the Highlanders at Forsyth Barr Stadium, before losing to the Brumbies in Super Round a week later.

While a win over the Hurricanes followed, defending champions the Crusaders handed another loss to their New Zealand rivals – and the damage didn’t stop there.

Tuivasa-Sheck was ruled out for “at least a month” with a hand injury following their Super Rugby Pacific final rematch at Eden Park.

While the No. 12 is apparently close to a return, he wasn’t included in coach Leon MacDonald’s plans for Saturday night’s clash with the Waratahs in Auckland.

“I’m glad I’ve fronted where my future is going to be and now I can just enjoy the moment now.

“I’m a Blues man for the rest of the year and… I’ll just enjoy every moment and whatever happens from here is going to happen.”