NZ Warriors chief executive Cameron George has - again - rushed to ease the fears of rugby league fans over the future of Roger Tuivasa-Sheck.
The club captain and fullback spent the last few days training with the All Blacks Sevens programme at Mt Maunganui and posed for a social media photo with squad members, wearing a NZ Rugby training jersey.
In September, Tuivasa-Sheck had to fend off rumours of a switch to the 15-man code next year.
The 2018 Dally M Player of the Year had a traumatic year off the field, spending the season away from his family, due to COVID-19.
But George has told Stuff the 27-year-old won't be switching codes for the 2021 Olympics - his star player was just there to train and learn.
"Each year, Roger does an education trip," George told Stuff. "Last year, he went to the States, but this year, he can’t travel.
"It was coincidental that where he was staying in Papamoa, the sevens team were there too, so he went into their camp to watch and learn.
"If he could have travelled overseas, like last year, when he went training at a university, he would have. He spent a week working with a sprint coach last year."
George says the club was fully aware of Tuivasa-Sheck's intentions and was assured that he would still turn out under new coach Nathan Brown in 2021.
The club may have to spend another season based in Australia, although Newshub understands it is working with the NRL to allow families to travel with the players.
A two-way trans-Tasman travel bubble may yet allow home games next year.
