Star full-back Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will join the New Zealand Warriors in 2016 after his move from the Sydney Roosters was confirmed on Wednesday.
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Tuivasa-Sheck was off contract with the Roosters at the end of the season and has agreed to a three-year deal with the Auckland-based club.
The 21-year-old has played 67 games for the Tricolours after making his NRL debut in late 2012 and was part of the club’s premiership-winning side in 2013.
Warriors coach Andrew McFadden said he was elated the New Zealand Test representative would be joining the club next season.
“He’s a wonderful talent and a fantastic signing,” McFadden said in a Warriors statement.
“He’s still only 21 and has already made a real mark in the NRL and also for the Kiwis. To be able to bring a New Zealander back to our club from Australia is massive for us.”
Tuivasa-Sheck said the decision to leave the Roosters was one he didn’t take lightly.
“This hasn’t been an easy decision for me,” Tuivasa-Sheck said in a Roosters statement.
“The Roosters have treated me so well ever since I got here and I owe the club a lot, but the lure of going home to New Zealand was too great.”
According to Fairfax Media, the Warriors tabled Tuivasa-Sheck a deal worth around $800,000 a year – an offer of almost double of what the Roosters presented.
Tuivasa-Sheck has been in outstanding form in 2015, and he was viewed as a long-term replacement for the retired Anthony Minchiello at fullback.
His loss will come as a major blow for the Roosters, however it will have freed up some salary cap space for the likes of James Maloney, Daniel Tupou and Shaun Kenny-Dowall who all come off contract at the end of the 2015 season.
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