Sydney Roosters utility Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has been poring over footage of the NRL’s best fullbacks in a bid to join them following Anthony Minichiello’s retirement announcement.
Tuivasa-Sheck and Minichiello have alternated between wing and fullback for much of 2014 and with the Tricolours skipper exiting Bondi Junction at season’s end the Kiwi international has the opportunity to make the spot his own.
Ahead of Saturday’s crucial round 23 clash with Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval, Tuivasa-Sheck has been closely studying the exploits of Brett Stewart, Jarryd Hayne and Greg Inglis to get the most out of his game.
“The last couple of games I have really been watching Brett Stewart the way he runs his sweep runs are great and his timing is so good, all that little stuff I try to pick up,” Tuivasa-Sheck told AAP.
“Inglis, he is just power and he can run through anyone and he has a great fend, and Jarryd Hayne with his speed – I try and put that into my game.
“I am working towards that, at the moment I am pretty confident of my attacking at fullback.
“I know I can get better in the defensive role that Mini plays at fullback, it is at a whole new level.
“But I love being at the back there, getting my hands on the ball and getting in the middle of the action. That is something I really enjoy, I am pretty lucky I have got there this year.
“I just have to get through this season and then we will have pre-season and I can get really stuck into it then.”
Tuivasa-Sheck said the fourth-placed premiers are wary of a Tigers side with their hopes on the line coming off a record 64-6 thumping to North Queensland.
“The past weeks we have lost these games, we can’t go in expecting them to fall over. They will be up for it,” he said.
“I feel like I am coming into form late in the season and hopefully I can carry it on.”
Winger Daniel Tupou (back) and hooker Jake Friend (hamstring) could be late inclusions for the Roosters, while Sonny Bill Williams (thumb) is likely to spend another week on the sidelines.
Halfback Luke Brooks is unlikely to return from a shoulder injury for a match the Tigers need to win to keep their finals hopes alive.
