Roger Tuivasa-Sheck doesn’t need to carry the Warriors on his shoulder in his return to fullback against Newcastle, coach Andrew Webster says.
The 2018 Dally M medallist is shifting to the position where he won the NRL’s highest individual accolade after starting the season in the centres, covering for injured No.1 duo Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Taine Tuaupiki.
The flyer’s first start at the back since 2021 - and a one-on-one battle with Knights superstar Kalyn Ponga - is a mouth-watering prospect, but coach Webster said fans shouldn’t expect the world.
It’s likely to be a one-week stint at fullback, with Nicoll-Klokstad due back from a hamstring injury next round.
“I’ve always said he’s our third fullback … Taine did a terrific job, I thought he was one of our best in the first three games and he allowed Roger to get used to that centre role,” Webster said.
“Roger has wanted to play centre the whole time and do his bit for the team, but he’s always known he’d be third man up.
“He welcomes the challenge … Roger is different this time in that he’s always been a team guy, but he knows he doesn’t have to put the whole team on his back.
“He plays a role, he’s another cog in the wheel - a very good one.”
There are plenty of similarities between the 2024 campaigns for the Warriors and the Knights.
Both started with back-to-back losses, before grinding out wins last weekend to avoid slipping into a 0-3 hole.
The Warriors’ 18-10 win against Canberra perhaps contained a touch more merit, and they add hooker Wayde Egan, barnstorming forward Marata Niukore and bench utility Dylan Walker back to their line-up.
“I feel like they’ve started the season a bit like us, they’ve looked the better team for periods of it and not got the win,” Webster said of the Knights.
“On the weekend they finally got it done, a bit like ourselves.
“We know we’re facing a really good side, and anyone who comes in and experiences Mt Smart (Stadium) particularly like they did last year, they’re going to be better for it.
“Last year is last year, we’re in the middle of a new fight now and we’re expecting their best.”
Sunday’s game is a rematch of last season’s semi-final, where the Warriors pumped the Knights 40-10 to book their way through to the preliminaries.
