Immediate Kiwis return on the cards for RTS as Warriors rule out early release

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could be back in a Kiwis jersey as early as this year, but the Warriors won't seek to gain an early release which would allow him to join their 2023 squad. 

Warriors recruitment boss Andrew McFadden ruled out the idea of Tuivasa-Sheck joining the club before 2024, but that doesn't mean the 29-year-old is out of contention for a spot in the Kiwis, with coach Michael Maguire keen to pursue the possibility of the 20-Test veteran lining up later this year. 

"I'd be well and truly open to it, that's for sure. It'd be crazy to think that a world class player like that isn't considered," Maguire said. 

"I want to let him be until he finishes up what he's doing, but I will definitely have the conversations with him and see where he is at.

We'd be doing the right thing by having a look and having a chat with Roger when the time is right. 

Michael Maguire

"It's exciting to get a player of his ability back to New Zealand, back to the Warriors and back to the Kiwi team."

The Kiwis are yet to confirm their 2023 end-of-year calendar, but given games will likely take place in October and November, Tuivasa-Sheck's participation would hinge on him not being selected in the All Blacks squad for the Rugby World Cup. 

McFadden confirmed to SENZ that bringing RTS into the squad for the back end of this year's Telstra Premiership campaign was "not in the thinking" of the club, with plans firmly focused on next year. 

"If you know Roger, Roger is still very committed to making the best [of it] and he still wants to make this All Blacks team," McFadden told 

"So we know our future starts with Roger at the end of the season and respectfully we just want to let Roger focus on rugby for now, so we haven't even considered that."

The Warriors had been in conversations with Tuivasa-Sheck and his management team since late last year, with McFadden saying the club was always hopeful their former captain would be back after departing at the end of 2021. 

The Warriors confirmed Tuivasa-Sheck had agreed to a three-year deal on Wednesday, which will see him add to his 195-game NRL career from 2024. 

"I think there was always an open dialogue ever since he left," McFadden told SENZ. 

"We know Roger very well and I guess it's always been on our mind about would he come back?

"We'd throw it out to his management every now and then and then eventually they came back and said 'we want to hear what you've got to offer'.

"When we got the phone call a couple of days ago that he was going to accept our offer, there was a few fist pumps, that's for sure."