Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has ended any speculation over his positional future, when he returns to NZ Warriors, confirming he's likely to slot into centre in 2024.
After struggling to adapt to rugby union, Tuivasa-Sheck, 30, has signed a three-year deal with the Warriors from next season, but has found the team he left in 2021 is a much different one than he'll come back to.
This season, Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad has done everything to cement himself as the Warriors' go-to in the No.1 jersey and has been publicly backed by coach Andrew Webster to carry on as fullback next season.
That will see Tuivasa-Sheck moving away from his preferred position, and with Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Marcelo Montoya and Ed Kosi thriving on the wings, those spots are also filled.
With the Warriors centre stocks looking thin for next year, with Adam Pompey off contract at the end of 2023 and Rocco Berry continuing to develop as a first-grade regular, Tuivasa-Sheck says that's where he'll likely start in his return.
"From the chat, I'm going in as a centre," Tuivasa-Sheck told the Morning Shift podcast. "I'm going in as a centre for pre-season and then we'll see what happens from there.
"I'm just front-line now. When I'm fullback, I'm just coasting from side to side.
"This time, I'm leading the kick-chase. I'm making sure I'm getting the edge [defence], I'm owning my edge.
"I'm ready, man."
Since announcing his return to the Warriors, Tuivasa-Sheck's time in the 15-man code has hardly gone to plan.
At the Blues, Tuivasa-Sheck was overlooked in favour of Harry Plummer for the end of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season, making just one start in a rotated side to face Moana Pasifika.
As a result, he was omitted from the first All Blacks squad of the year and is unlikely to travel to France for this year's Rugby World Cup.
Rather than chase the money on offer offshore, Tuivasa-Sheck will follow his heart back to the Warriors and with the side flying up the NRL ladder - sitting third after their latest win over Canberra Raiders - he wants to be remembered for what he achieves with the club.
"That's probably what stopped me from moving to Japan and trying to cash out," he added. "I'd love a title with the Warriors.
I'd love to be part of that team that wins it for the Warriors, does it for the city.
"That's what excites me. The way the boys are going, it's looking good."
Before he returns to the Warriors, Tuivasa-Sheck will play out this season's NPC with Auckland.
As far as future international aspirations go, Tuivasa-Sheck also teases he may line up for World Cup runners-up Toa Samoa, with rugby league's international eligibility laws more relaxed than rugby union's.
"It's there, it's in the mix, in the process I'm thinking," he said. "I'll see what happens."
