Inside the meeting that led to NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck quitting rugby and returning to the Warriors

Rated the world’s best player in 2019, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has revealed his comeback with the Warriors will include learning to play centre for the first time in his career.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was shown video clips of Roosters star Joey Manu during the secret meeting that convinced him to quit rugby union and return to the NRL.

Rated the world’s best player in 2019, Tuivasa-Sheck has revealed his comeback with the Warriors will include learning to play centre for the first time in his career.

The 30-year-old, who has spent the past two years playing rugby union with the Auckland Blues and included 12 Test caps with the All Blacks, has signed a three-year deal with the Warriors from 2024.

In his most expansive interview to date, Tuivasa-Sheck told Monty Betham’s Once A Warrior podcast that he initially didn’t want to go to a meeting with Warriors head coach Andrew Webster last December.

After two years playing union, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck is back in the NRL. Picture: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

“I was looking at a Japan deal, actually,’’ the 2018 Dally M medal winner said.

“I was looking to take the family overseas and travel the world.

“But in December my manager called and said would I like to sit down with Andrew McFadden (Warriors head of recruitment), Andrew Webster and Cameron George (Warriors CEO).

“I was like, ‘Oh, not really’.

“I didn’t know if that’s where I wanted to go. But out of respect, because I love all those guys, I said, ‘Okay, let’s catch up’.

“Webby had a presentation ready for me – I thought it was just going to be a catch-up.

“He played a presentation of me possibly coming back and where I could fit into this team.’’

Tuivasa-Sheck has only ever played fullback, wing and five-eighth across his 195 NRL appearances.

He revealed how Webster used video as his pitch to sell the prospect of transitioning into a centre next season.

“When I had that conversation with Webby, he saw me playing in the centre role,’’ Tuivasa-Sheck said.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will return to the Warriors and the NRL. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“He said that he believes this is the position where I can come and add value.

“He had clips of Joey Manu and myself.

“And he was saying Joey was one of those centres that can go and roam, or scoot from dummy-half, or be on the inside support of Teddy (James Tedesco), so that’s the type of role he saw me playing.

“It’s being able to roam as well, and pop up in positions that can add another number.

“It’s been getting me excited and so that’s what I’ve been locked onto.

“I’m looking forward to going into pre-season as a centre and seeing how we go.’’

Tuivasa-Sheck explained his overriding motivation to return to the Warriors, after quitting the club in 2021.

“I definitely have unfinished business, that’s how I see it,’’ Tuivasa-Sheck said.

“I look back and say that I was trying my guts off. I was trying to perform each and every year.

Joseph Manu during Sydney Roosters training at Moore Park. Picture: Jonathan Ng

“But I look back and say, ‘It’s not about me now’.

“It’s about how can this club win now?

“That’s my mindset going back and I’m grateful I got three years at it.

“That’s what I’m looking forward to. I’m going to make sure I bring it all, second time round, it’s an opportunity I’m not going to miss.’’

Originally published as Inside the meeting that led to NRL star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck quitting rugby and returning to the Warriors