Vodafone Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck will miss tomorrow night’s NRL clash against Parramatta in Sydney to be with his partner Ashley Walker who is expecting the couple’s first child.
When the team travelled to Sydney today, the 24-year-old Tuivasa-Sheck stayed behind in Auckland.
“We all support Roger and Ashley and wish them all the best,” said Vodafone Warriors head coach Stephen Kearney.
“It’s an incredible time in their lives and we’re excited for them. There’s no question for us in circumstances like this. Family always come first.”
Kearney said standoff Blake Green will captain the side in Tuivasa-Sheck’s absence.
Given Tuivasa-Sheck’s circumstances, the NRL has granted the Vodadfone Warriors dispensation to draft utility Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad into the squad.
The other two players to drop out of the 21 players originally named are prop Albert Vete and centre Anthony Gelling.