Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Apparently there are only about 3000 or so schoolboy league players in NZ vs about 25000 in rugby...supposedly higher numbers of girls play league at school than boys.
I expect RTS could well excel at rugby but might take longer than he has IF he was aiming for the RWC.
Lousi and Duffie were poor when they came back, but time in the sport and game time thier natural ability is shining.
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Like RTS, a lot of schoolboys play both codes while at school.
RTS went to Otahuhu College which is not one of the top rugby schools in Auckland. He played for the NZSS though.
Here is the team with some familiar names:
http://www.allblacks.com/Teams/Schools/Previous/602Check out his player profile (i.e., favourite team and future ambition).
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@nepia said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
@crazy-horse I don't think Laumape and Duffie are really average league players. Laumape was class but injured all the time, Duffie held down a spot with the Storm and would have played more matches if not injured at both club and rep level.
I think the key with these recent successful 'switchers' is that they were rugby players first, switched to league and came back.
Did anyone see RTS play rugby back in the day?
The RTS we saw at the roosters , I would be pretty confident would make a good fist of it as a rugby winger ,
Very quick , could beat defenders with a step , good defender , good under the high ball ,
Hasnt looked so sharp this year though , not sure if that is getting over the injury , or the Warriors curse , or a bit of both .
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@chester-draws said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
@cgrant said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
Do the ABs need him for the 2019 RWC ?
For the back three, they have : Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, NMS, Jordie Barrett, DMac, Naholo, Ioane, Savea, Havili, Duffie and Tamanivalu, plus maybe Nanai, Alaimalo, Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke if they can step up.Who says he will play at the back?
We didn't need, as in really need, Brad Thorn either.
Edit: I see him as a five-eighth or centre in union. A place we already have one league convert, not in his league position.
From memory, he played union on the wing and was beating defenders at will (it was the highlights reel). Even though he played for Otahu, he easily stood out when up against the big guns.
He could easily play 14 and play the wing/fullback role. Although, I'm not so sure on his ability under the high ball with pressure, and his kicking game. His defence will definitely be a step up on JB/DMac.People also forget that he is a converted fullback (he started off on the wing in league), who is now regarded one of the best in his position.
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@mimic said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
@chester-draws said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
@cgrant said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
Do the ABs need him for the 2019 RWC ?
For the back three, they have : Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, NMS, Jordie Barrett, DMac, Naholo, Ioane, Savea, Havili, Duffie and Tamanivalu, plus maybe Nanai, Alaimalo, Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke if they can step up.Who says he will play at the back?
We didn't need, as in really need, Brad Thorn either.
Edit: I see him as a five-eighth or centre in union. A place we already have one league convert, not in his league position.
From memory, he played union on the wing and was beating defenders at will (it was the highlights reel). Even though he played for Otahu, he easily stood out when up against the big guns.
He could easily play 14 and play the wing/fullback role. Although, I'm not so sure on his ability under the high ball with pressure, and his kicking game. His defence will definitely be a step up on JB/DMac.People also forget that he is a converted fullback (he started off on the wing in league), who is now regarded one of the best in his position.
You're taking a punt with 'definitely' if you watched him defend this year (TBF being a Warriors fullback gives you lots of chances to make and miss tackles) - and saw Duffie get used as a human speed bump on occasion when returning.
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@nepia said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
@mimic said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
@chester-draws said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
@cgrant said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
Do the ABs need him for the 2019 RWC ?
For the back three, they have : Ben Smith, Israel Dagg, NMS, Jordie Barrett, DMac, Naholo, Ioane, Savea, Havili, Duffie and Tamanivalu, plus maybe Nanai, Alaimalo, Will Jordan and Caleb Clarke if they can step up.Who says he will play at the back?
We didn't need, as in really need, Brad Thorn either.
Edit: I see him as a five-eighth or centre in union. A place we already have one league convert, not in his league position.
From memory, he played union on the wing and was beating defenders at will (it was the highlights reel). Even though he played for Otahu, he easily stood out when up against the big guns.
He could easily play 14 and play the wing/fullback role. Although, I'm not so sure on his ability under the high ball with pressure, and his kicking game. His defence will definitely be a step up on JB/DMac.People also forget that he is a converted fullback (he started off on the wing in league), who is now regarded one of the best in his position.
You're taking a punt with 'definitely' if you watched him defend this year (TBF being a Warriors fullback gives you lots of chances to make and miss tackles) - and saw Duffie get used as a human speed bump on occasion when returning.
Boomfa
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Duffie had a few high profile defensive misses that year. Nadolo was the famous one, and even though it was understandable, it was pretty embarrassing. In general, I don't think he was impressing many people with his game. However, the thing that really impressed me about Duffie was how he didn't drop his lip or try and run back to league. I didn't anticipate the trajectory of his improvement but even if he didn't get as good as he has gotten, I would have been impressed with how he conducted himself after that first season.
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I thought this was a really good article about Duffie. He has overcome a lot of adversity with serious injuries but perseverance and work ethic has got him through.
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Last year in debut SR season Duffie was awful, hopelessly out of his depth. Then later on season in NPC he started to look quite good. I wondered if that was his natural level or whether he was adjusting.
Then this year's SR he was fantastic. I'm a huge fan of his play.
Also. I get the feeling there is quite a bit of respect in NZ rugby for the culture and player development that happens at Melbourne Storm.
Conversely, I think there is suspicion and a bit of contempt for the playing side at the Warriors and for the culture side at the Sydney clubs.
Storm have taken the mantle from the Brisbane Broncos during the Wayne Bennett ( and Brad Thorn era).
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As to the original thread topic.
I think it's a bargaining ploy. The only kiwi League players we have seen actually make the switch are the cut loose medical basket cases (Duffie, Laumape, Fisiahi) apart from Benji's short dalliance.
Who do it the right way through the pyramid.
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@mn5 compare that to how the 'guy that can't tackle' deals with that threat
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@williethewaiter said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
@mn5 compare that to how the 'guy that can't tackle' deals with that threat
I think that one was a case of Naholo talking over him rather than a real tackle. Kinda like putting a stick between the spokes of a bike. Brave effort though.
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@mn5 said in Roger Tuivasa-Sheck:
What sort of player is he ? I don't watch much provincial or Super Rugby which will surprise no one judging from the crap I write on here.
Duffie is arguably the best player in NZ under the high ball - it has started to become a real weapon for teams he is in to use. He is deceptively quick and has more power than you'd expect too - a canny sort of attacker who picks his spots well and has a unique long legged loping running style. Can play fullback. Has been compared to Ben Smith - I wouldn't say he's at at that level but he's come a hell of a long way from 18 months ago when he did not look Super Rugby level.
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@mikedogz perhaps, but even in the weekend you could see his value at 12 with those feet. He gets through space better than any of the 12s.
And the team is bigger than one player, the Blues needed a 12, we had lots of options at fullback or even wing.
