Roger Tuivasa-Sheck

The Blues’ 29-year-old former Kiwis and Warriors star will become the 39th man to represent New Zealand in both rugby codes.

Tuivasa-Sheck has been named in the All Blacks squad in his first season in the code - a path trodden in the past by the highest profile code hopper of recent times, Sonny Bill Williams.

If Tuivasa-Sheck does take the field in 2022 he will become just the third man to play a test match for the All Blacks after first representing the Kiwis, a feat achieved by Karl Ifwersen and Williams.

A long-term injury to Anton Lienert-Brown has put the spotlight on the All Blacks' midfield stocks for the upcoming schedule, with Foster admitting they were a concern for him and his selectors.

Quinn Tupaea of the Chiefs and David Havili of the Crusaders firm as candidates to fill the All Blacks No.12 jersey, already boasting midfield experience at test level, but a solid, if not unspectacular start to life with the Blues may also see Tuivasa-Sheck answering those questions.

Dragons fullback Matt Dufty had touched down from an Adam Clune grubber with 20 minutes to go, and St George Illawarra looked on track to claim their fifth straight win.

But Tuivasa-Sheck beat Jack Bird and Tariq Sims to put his team in front with 15 minutes to play.

Warriors five-eighth Kodi Nikorima added a penalty goal shortly afterwards, capping a faultess kicking performance which included three conversions.

The home side played much of the game with only one healthy interchange player after Joe Tapine (ankle), Ryan James and Sebastian Kris (both head injury assessments) were ruled out.

And they still found some energy to try to steal the victory when Jordan Rapana was stretching out for the corner with only seconds left on the clock. Tuivasa-Sheck's reach was that little bit longer, knocking the ball from the winger's grasp.

The Warriors sign off their season on Sunday against the Manly Sea Eagles after missing out on the playoffs.

Tuivasa-Sheck described the eventual season in which the team were based away from home in New South Wales, lost their coach, had homesick team members leave and had the rules changed to allow them loan players as "interesting".

During all of the off-field chaos the 27-year-old fullback was commended for his leadership.

But he was quick to deflect the praise.

Roger Tuivasa-Sheck limped off midway through the second-half of the Warriors' 26-14 loss to the Raiders in Canberra with a hamstring strain.

It's expected to keep him out of their final round match against the Manly Sea Eagles next Sunday.

The Warriors were again in the contest for the entire 80 minutes.

They led 14-6 after half an hour courtesy of two tries from Peta Hiku and two penalties and a conversion from Chanel Harris-Tavita.

But the Raiders snatched a 16-14 halftime lead after two tries in six minutes.

The Kiwis fullback is on a list of 14 nominees for the Ken Stephen Medal for outstanding community service.

He was nominated by the Warriors after leading the side through their four-month campaign in Australia during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tuivasa-Sheck – the NRL’s Dally M Medal player of the year in 2018 – was the only Warrior who did not have his family with him, and he has missed his daughter’s birthday during his enforced Australian exile.

The Daily Telegraph reports Tuivasa-Sheck is weighing up his future at the Warriors with concerns around what next season could be like for the Auckland-based franchise on his mind.

The major concern is if the team would have to be based in Australia again like they have this season due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which has meant Tuivasa-Sheck has had to spend an extended amount of time away from his young family.

Tuivasa-Sheck scooped the prize, which is awarded to the best international player of the year, ahead of Tonga prop Siosiua Taukeiaho and New Zealand team-mate Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.

The 26-year-old returned from a 12-month international absence to help his country defeat Tonga 34-14 in the Oceania Cup Test and also featured in a 2-0 series triumph over Great Britain.

He also ran 167 metres and set up his team's only try in the 26-4 defeat to Australia.

Congratulations Roger pic.twitter.com/E4XNyVpvLg

Tuivasa-Sheck won the National Rugby League's prestigious Dally M player of the year award - the first time a Warriors' player has won the prize in the club's 24 year history.

RNZ asked New Zealand Rugby League why Tuivasa-Sheck was not nominated by them for the Halbergs and their initial repsonse was that as Tuivasa-Sheck was injured and didn't play for the Kiwis in 2018, he couldn't be nominated.

When it was pointed out an athlete didn't have to be playing for a national side to be nominated the NZRL then replied: