Roger that: Daryl Halligan tips Kiwi wing to star
DAVID LONG IN DONCASTER
Sonny Bill Williams may be the star New Zealander going into the Rugby League World Cup, but Kiwis great Daryl Halligan says Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could be the player everyone's talking about at the end of the tournament.
The 20-year-old is one of two uncapped players in the Kiwis squad, the other being his Roosters team-mate, Sam Moa.
At the World Cup, Tuivasa-Sheck will be vying for a spot on the wings, along with Manu Vatuvei and Jason Nightingale, while Josh Hoffman should be the starting fullback. Tuivasa-Sheck had an outstanding season in the NRL and was named winger of the year at the Dally M awards, but will be an unknown quantity to the UK media. However, Halligan says he may not be when he leaves these shores.
"Roger Tuivasa-Sheck's transition has been superb and why he ever left New Zealand I don't know, but I know the Warriors can't keep everyone," Halligan told Sunday News.
"I like the way the Roosters have developed him. He has always been earmarked to take over from Anthony Minichiello [at fullback] and he's been quite happy to bide his time on the wing and be a student of the game.
"He is quite intellectual, his body shape is developing, so he could be in the Kiwis for another 10 years at least."
Halligan feels there is a good balance in the Kiwis squad.
"New Zealand's last venture there for the World Cup wasn't so good (losing to Australia in the final 40-12), but I am hoping this one will be a bit different," Halligan said.
"There is a changing of the guard in terms of some of the players coming through, there's no Benji Marshall, but there is Kieran Foran, Shaun Johnson and Thomas Leuluai, so there is a real nice look about the halves.
"Also, they have some real maturing players, who have arguably been some of the better players in the NRL this year, like Jared Waerea-Hargreaves.
"So I think there is plenty there and we will be devastated if we don't make the final and then go on to win it."
Halligan, who played 20 tests on the wing for the Kiwis between 1992 and 1998, will be part of the commentary team, along with Andrew Voss, his usual partner for Warriors games.
The two of them will be travelling around the UK and France during the six-week tournament.
"We get to call the opening game," Halligan said. "I am doing 10 games in a co-commentator role and Vossy will do at least that as the main commentator. The BBC are doing all of the England games but Vossy and myself are commentating those as well."
The opening game of the World Cup is the most significant of the pool matches, with England facing Australia at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff, a fixture of huge significance to the Kiwis.
"The game between those two pretty much guarantees a final spot for the winner and the loser should play New Zealand in a semifinal," Halligan said.
"Australia don't get beat too often, to be fair, and I'm picking Australia to win that game and then more than likely we'll be fronting up against the Poms in the semifinal.
"But that gives us a chance for redemption and we need to do that after last time (losing to England 28-6 in Hull in 2011)."
