Watch: Former All Black’s sensational showing in NRL pre-season return

Former All Black Roger Tuivasa-Sheck was sensational for the New Zealand Warriors on Sunday in their NRL pre-season 16-18 defeat to the Wests Tigers in Christchurch.

Tuivasa-Sheck, 30, signed with the Warriors ahead of the 2024 NRL season which brought an end to a mixed two-year stint in rugby union with Auckland, the Blues and New Zealand.

The 2018 Dally M Medallist, who has played for both the Sydney Roosters and Warriors, almost signed with a Japanese rugby club before committing to a three-year deal in the NRL.

Tuivasa-Sheck has been front and centre in multiple social media posts over the past few months as fans from both codes looked ahead to his return to the field in rugby league.

As confirmed by the Warriors last week, Tuivasa-Sheck was named to start in the No. 4 jersey at centre ahead of the Warriors’ clash with the Benji Marshall-coached Wests Tigers.

It didn’t take long for Tuivasa-Sheck to impress, either, with the NRL releasing a 57-second compilation video that highlights all of the ex-All Blacks’ key involvements.

Tuivasa-Sheck caught opposition defenders in two minds with some fast-feet carries during the first half but the moment that stood out the most came on the defensive side of the ball.

Replacement Sione Fainu made a meaningful line break up to halfway when the Tiger was met by a hard-hitting Tuivasa-Sheck. Fainu was looking for teammates in support before spotting the Warrior standing in his way.

Welcome back, RTS! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/eCdnWeGSIk

— NRL (@NRL) February 19, 2024

Tuivasa-Sheck picked up the 22-year-old, who is yet to debut in the NRL, and dumped him into the ground – much to the delight of the crowd who let out a big cheer.

The NRL Premiership winner – won with the Sydney Roosters in 2013 – pulled off another big shot a few minutes later with the Tigers close to the Warriors’ try-line.

For the rest of the match, as seen in the highlight video, Tuivasa-Sheck let his work in attack do the talking with the sidestepping whiz continuing to wreak havoc.

The NRL has welcomed back the capped All Black with open arms.

“I thought I was going to go on to rugby and then I had a Japan deal lined up,” Tuivasa-Sheck told reporters last year.

“I was going to go, take my family, explore the world, see what happens and go from there.

“But when I went through the process, I called Jazz (Tevaga) and Tohu (Harris), who I was close with and said let’s go out for a coffee.

“I said, ‘Tell me one thing, do I just go to Japan and see what happens or do I come back?’

“They looked at each other and said there’s something here (at the Warriors).

“That got me excited, so then I had another catchup with Webby (coach Andrew Webster) and made the decision to come back.

“I’m just excited now because they’re excited. They feel something here and hopefully for the next few years something happens.”