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Walsh switch no-brainer for Tuivasa-Sheck

3 minute read

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has revealed he would have wanted Reece Walsh to play fullback for Warriors ahead of him in NRL even if he wasn't switching to rugby union.

ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK.
ROGER TUIVASA-SHECK. Picture: Phil Walter/Getty Images

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck claims Reece Walsh's star is so bright that he would have offered to move to the wing for the Warriors young gun even if his switch from the NRL to rugby union wasn't looming.

Tuivasa-Sheck told coach Nathan Brown earlier this year he was happy to shift out wide when Walsh was on the field, giving the club's future No.1 valuable game time in the key position.

Former Dally M medallist Tuivasa-Sheck said he made the decision after watching just two weeks of Walsh in training, with the 18-year-old making the mid-season move across the Tasman from Brisbane.

Bound for union at the end of the year, Tuivasa-Sheck said his decision had been inspired by Anthony Minichiello's efforts to assist him at the start of his career at the Sydney Roosters.

"I understand where I am, being a little older and not as quick and as agile as Reece is coming at the back there," the 27-year-old Tuivasa-Sheck said.

"I just want to see us go well and I just want to win games. That's that's where my mind is.

"And understanding that Reece has been putting points on the board for us with tries and try assists.

"I was lucky that when I was young, 18 or 19 coming through. I was lucky to have Anthony Minichiello play exactly the same role that I'm playing for Reece.

"I've seen this before and I wanted to play my part."

Tuivasa-Sheck's time at the back is not over, however, with the superstar still trying to fit in as an on-ball second fullback in attack.

Walsh will start at fullback for just the second time against Wests Tigers on Friday, with Ken Maumalo out and Tuivasa-Sheck on the wing.

But coach Nathan Brown is not comfortable over-working Walsh by starting him each week, after COVID-19 meant he didn'y play any football last year.

"For an 18-year-old to have only three or four games of footy in 18 months, then to become a starting first-grader in one of our more demanding positions is probably a little unrealistic," Brown said.

"I do get when people watch him come on and see what he does and think I'm a bit of a dumbo - I get that.

"(But) Reece's parents took a big punt on coming to us, so I've got an obligation to protect him.

"Am I over-protecting him? Maybe a little bit. But he'll certainly start some games for us."

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