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While it’s back to the future for winger Roger Tuivasa-Sheck this season it’s not the only subject on his mind as the One New Zealand Warriors step up their work for their NRL season opener against Canberra in Las Vegas on Saturday PST (Sunday NZ).

The 31-year-old is relishing being back on the edge 10 years after last being used as a specialist winger with the Roosters but he’s equally thrilled with what’s happening to the rugby league code as thrives in the Pacific and makes its presence felt in the United States.

“It’s been fun. Vegas is crazy. There’s a lot going on all the time. It’s good to be here and experience that with the team,” said Tuivasa-Sheck.

“Rugby league is definitely doing something great here. I love this whole concept of coming and playing in this place. It’s the capital of entertainment and that’s what we are (entertainment).

“I think you can see a lot of the world in both codes (rugby league and rugby union) now. You just have to be lucky and fortunate where you are and today I’m with the NRL with the Warriors and playing Vegas and that’s pretty cool.

Team Lists

Backs

  • Fullback for Raiders is number 1 Kaeo Weekes
    Fullback for Warriors is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad
  • Winger for Raiders is number 2 Savelio Tamale
    Winger for Warriors is number 2 Taine Tuaupiki
  • Centre for Raiders is number 3 Matthew Timoko
    Centre for Warriors is number 3 Ali Leiataua
  • Centre for Raiders is number 4 Sebastian Kris
    Centre for Warriors is number 4 Adam Pompey
  • Winger for Raiders is number 5 Xavier Savage
    Winger for Warriors is number 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
  • Five-Eighth for Raiders is number 6 Ethan Strange
    Five-Eighth for Warriors is number 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita
  • Halfback for Raiders is number 7 Jamal Fogarty
    Halfback for Warriors is number 7 Luke Metcalf

Forwards

  • Prop for Raiders is number 8 Corey Horsburgh
    Prop for Warriors is number 8 James Fisher-Harris
  • Hooker for Raiders is number 9 Tom Starling
    Hooker for Warriors is number 9 Wayde Egan
  • Prop for Raiders is number 10 Joseph Tapine
    Prop for Warriors is number 15 Jackson Ford
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 11 Hudson Young
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 11 Kurt Capewell
  • 2nd Row for Raiders is number 12 Zac Hosking
    2nd Row for Warriors is number 12 Marata Niukore
  • Lock for Raiders is number 16 Josh Papalii
    Lock for Warriors is number 10 Mitchell Barnett

Interchange

  • Interchange for Raiders is number 13 Morgan Smithies
    Interchange for Warriors is number 13 Erin Clark
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 14 Owen Pattie
    Interchange for Warriors is number 14 Dylan Walker
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 15 Simi Sasagi
    Interchange for Warriors is number 16 Demitric Vaimauga
  • Interchange for Raiders is number 17 Ata Mariota
    Interchange for Warriors is number 17 Leka Halasima

Reserves

  • Replacement for Raiders is number 22 Jed Stuart
    Replacement for Warriors is number 21 Eddie Ieremia-Toeava

Match Officials

  • Referee: Grant Atkins
  • Touch Judge: Phil Henderson
  • Touch Judge: Dave Munro
  • Senior Review Official: Gerard Sutton

Last updated:

“Every time we’re walking around and every time we say we’re from New Zealand they assume we’re the All Blacks but we have to correct them and say: ‘No, rugby league! Warriors!’

“At one stage the boys were itching to see everything, buzzing around this city and this town and how it never sleeps. The lights and the colours … but we’re two trainings in and now we’re back to locking in. We’re excited to do a lot of footy and keen to rip into our season.”

For Tuivasa-Sheck that means tearing into his work on the left wing reprising the role he had for his first three seasons when he started his NRL career with the Roosters in 2012.

“It’s a little bit different on the wing with my body composition now,” he said.

“When I came into the game I was about 80kgs and I was a lot lighter and probably quicker. Now I’m a little heavier and the game has gone faster.

“Webby and I spoke heading into Christmas and thought this would be a good dynamic for our team and I agreed, bought in and jumped on it. At this stage of my career I’m just glad to be playing and be in the 17.”