Roger that, No 1, Kiwi flyer set for fullback
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck appears the prime contender for the highlycontested Kiwis fullback spot for the Four Nations tournament.
The Roosters flyer, who was unable to help the Roosters return to the grand final after they lost 32-22 to the Rabbitohs on Friday, has spent most of the NRL season on the wing.
But the understands Tuivasa-Sheck is the preferred option in the No 1 jersey, with the squad to be named next Tuesday.
This is despite the presence of Josh Hoffman and incumbent Peta Hiku, both of whom have more experience at the back.
Tuivasa-Sheck made his NRL debut midway through 2012, a year after starring for Otahuhu College in league and union. He’s been outstanding for the Roosters this year, contributing almost 150 running metres per game from the flank.
The 21-year-old is being groomed to replace the retiring Anthony Minichiello next year and has been running at fullback during some of the Roosters’ attacking plays but Kiwis coach Stephen Kearney was non-committal on his likely position.
“Remember he goes pretty well on the wing,” Kearney said. “He was excellent there at the World Cup and I couldn’t tell you where he will be at this stage. We have players like Roger, Peta and Josh who can play a few different positions and we can shift guys around depending on what suits the group. Roger will be a fullback next year and, whether that means we start that process for him in the Four Nations, we will have to wait and see.”
Tuivasa-Sheck is a tempting but slightly risky option at fullback. For all his skills, he has limited experience there and would be targeted. Hoffman has played well against Australia in the past, and seems to rise a few levels above his club form, but was flat at the World Cup when his contract was a hot topic and is again the subject of contract speculation. Hiku did well in this year’s Anzac test and has played most of his career at No 1. He doesn’t have Tuivasa-Sheck’s pace but tackles strongly and is positionally sound.
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
But maybe Tuivasa-Sheck is a gamble worth taking. He seems undaunted by new challenges — he was one of the few consistently good Kiwis at the World Cup — and is mature off the field. There’s also a logjam of potential wingers, with Manu Vatuvei, Jason Nightingale, Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Hiku and Tuivasa-Sheck all candidates.
“Roger brings so much energy to the game from a wing position,” Kearney said. “I imagine if he’s at fullback, he’s going to give you that, plus a little bit more. We haven’t seen a lot of him in the fullback role but he would be on the ball a lot more as opposed to being stuck out on the wing after he has finished his carry.”