RTS backs speed men to lift Warriors to Loffie heights

One attribute Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has never lacked is speed - whether it be across the turf or between the ears.

As the 32-year-old enters his 13th season of rugby league and 15th as a professional footballer, he remains one of the NRL's most elusive and exciting outside backs.

Set to join forces with old mates Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Dallin Watene-Zelezniak and new faces Alofiana Khan-Pereira and Haizyn Mellars in 2026, RTS is adamant the speed of the game has gone to another level.

"My biggest take out from the 2026 pre-season is how fast it is. Everyone is moving a lot faster," Tuivasa-Sheck told media this week.

"I think it's the game forcing us that way but the boys are looking sharp and everything is moving at a speed that is different to last year already, so it's exciting."

One man who needs no invitation to step on the gas is Khan-Pereira, a natural born speedster who boasts the astonishing strike rate of 53 tries in 54 games since debuting for the Titans in 2023.

Back in 2024, Tuivasa-Sheck had a front row seat as Khan-Pereira ran in four tries as Gold Coast burned the Warriors 66-6 at Cbus Super Stadium.

That haul equalled the Titans record for most tries in a match set by Jordan Atkins against the Cowboys in 2008 and showcased the raw speed and dazzling footwork set to make Khan-Pereira a crowd favourite in Auckland.

"Both Loffie and Haizyn Mellars are freakish athletes," said Tuivasa-Sheck, who has been ruled out of the Pre-Season Challenge due to a low-grade hamstring injury.

"Loffie has real speed and Haizyn is an unreal basketball player too and having them at the club means we'll have a real challenge for spots.

"It makes me grow even more and want to challenge them to keep my spot and that’s what we all need at the Warriors.

"Their buy-in during the pre-season has been awesome and the connection all around has been good.

"There is a lot more belief again this year. Everyone has grown. We had a really good crack at it last year and put ourselves in a pretty good position to have a crack at a title but we were disappointed how we finished."

Sitting fourth on the ladder after 20 rounds last season, the Warriors lost five of their last seven matches to squander the double chance in the finals and were bundled out in week one by the Panthers.

The recruitment of speed men Khan-Pereira and Mellars along with highly rated English back-rower Morgan Gannon gives the Warriors extra strike power in 2026 and belief is growing that they can deliver a maiden premiership in the club's 32nd season.

"Morgan has fitted in really nicely – I can’t believe how young he is," said Tuivasa-Sheck.

"The way he goes about his business you would think he was in his late 20s, not 22.

"I think he is enjoying himself here in New Zealand."

The son of Jim Gannon, who racked up 359 Super League games across stints with Huddersfield, Hull KR, Widnes and Halifax, as well as 22 games with Balmain in 1998-99, Morgan was part of England's squad for last year's Ashes series and arrives with big raps.

"Morgs has settled in really well, he's a really talented footballer and it's a pleasure to have him here," said veteran back-rower Kurt Capewell.

"I know what it’s like to travel to a different country to live and be away from all your family so I wanted to make sure he settled in.

"He has trained the house down and it will be really exciting to see how he goes this weekend [against Manly]."