Bombshell Australian reports claim NZ Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will quit the club and sign a two-year deal with New Zealand rugby.
The Warriors captain will play out the 2021 season with the club, before ending his contract prematurely to pursue his dream of representing the All Blacks at the 2023 World Cup, according to Sydney's Daily Telegraph.
The 27-year-old has reportedly been in discussions with NZ Rugby for several months and is on the verge of agreeing on a code switch to play for the Blues, which could be confirmed as early as next week.
In the past, the Auckland club has stated it wouldn't stand in the way if the superstar wanted to chase his dream of playing for the All Blacks, but the NRL club has stated, if he does return to the 13-man code, he has to play for the Penrose club and not a rival team.
This is a huge blow for the Warriors, who have built a roster capable of challenging for the NRL title, but Tuivasa-Sheck’s departure at the end of the season would hamper those plans.
The captain has been an integral part of the club and, at times, has carried the side. He was the only player whose family didn't join him across the Tasman in 2020 and he's again had to say goodbye to them, as the Warriors headed for another Australian stay of undetermined length, although his family will join him next month in Terrigal.
In 2018, he won the Dally M Medal and he is considered among the best players in the competition, not just one of the best fullbacks.
Tuivasa-Sheck has played rugby in the past at high school level and for the Blues development side, before committing to league.
This summer, he trained with the All Blacks Sevens and previously admitted to considering changing codes, before the 2019 Rugby World Cup.
