Roger Tuivasa-Sheck blew up social media and sports news sites last week with the announcement he will be returning to rugby league and the Warriors in 2024 on a three-year deal, capping an amazing turnaround for the embattled Auckland-based NRL club.
A schoolboy rugby union star in New Zealand, Tuivasa-Sheck was snapped up by Sydney Roosters and won a grand final, Dally M Winger of the Year honours and debuted for the Kiwis as a 20-year-old in 2013.
Becoming one of the game’s premier fullback in the Tricolours, RTS headed home with the Warriors in 2016, took over as captain in 2017 and became the first player from the club to win the Dally M Medal in 2018.
Tuivasa-Sheck led the Warriors through the arduous, heart-wrenching first two seasons of their COVID-enforced period jettisoned in Australia – justly awarded the Dally M Captain of the Year honour in 2020.
But in 2021, RTS revealed he would be attempting to fulfil a childhood ambition, signing with NZR with a view to representing the All Blacks.
He wasted little time making an impact in the 15-a-side game, winning a Super Rugby title with the Blues and an All Blacks call-up in 2022, playing three Tests.
Pushed into a limiting inside-centre role in union, Tuivasa-Sheck has been stuck in a logjam of quality Kiwi No.12s, however, and his chances of becoming a first-choice All Black in 2023 appear remote – though he will remain in contention for the World Cup this year.
The euphoria that greeted news of his return to the Warriors left no doubt where the 20-Test Kiwi belongs, however, and next year he will join the illustrious list of players who have hopped from one code to another and back again.
Manfred Moore
A pioneer in every sense, Moore was picked up in the 1974 NFL Draft by San Francisco 49ers and was their special teams player of the year in 1974 an ’75 before linking with Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then Oakland Raiders in 1976.
The John Singleton-backed Newtown Jets lured Moore Down Under just three months after winning the Super Bowl with the Raiders in 1977 and thrilled the Henson Park faithful, soaring high to score a try on debut and throwing a footy over the grandstand post-match.
But after five first-grade matches he was relegated to reserve grade and a head injury prompted his return to the States and the NFL, lining up for Minnesota Vikings before the year was out.
But Moore retains a cherished niche in rugby league folklore and the game mourned his death in 2020, aged 69.
Frano Botica
North Harbour flyhalf Botica played seven Tests for the All Blacks during the second half of the 1980s, but his path to regular appearances in the No.10 jersey were blocked by the great Grant Fox.
Botica was among the first wave of All Blacks defectors to league in 1990 and became a pointscoring phenomenon at Wigan – racking up 1,931 points in a 179 games – and playing seven Tests for the Kiwis.
The utility-back’s stint with the fledgling Auckland Warriors in 1995 was cut short by a broken leg and after a season at Castleford he became one of the first league converts to return to union. Botica played for Welsh club Llanelli, then North Harbour and Super 12’s Chiefs.
Mark Carter
One of the most oddly maligned All Blacks, openside flanker Carter played three Tests in 1991 but was consistently overlooked in subsequent years – a victim of anti-Auckland bias that prevailed in the wake of that year’s World Cup failure.
A strong domestic performer – even forcing icon Michael Jones to the No.6 jersey – Carter was a strange pick-up for the Warriors in 1996 and played just eight first-grade games before rejoining the union ranks.
As well as a Super 12 title with the Blues, Carter won an All Blacks recall and played a further four Tests under John Hart’s coaching in 1997-98.
John Kirwan
One of the all-time great All Blacks with a then-record 35 tries in 63 Tests from 1984-94, Kirwan initially rebuffed the big-name-chasing Auckland Warriors’ advances.
But the grandson of 1920s Kiwi Jack Kirwan had a change of heart and linked with the club after the 1995 premiership had commenced.
Though on the wrong side of 30 and well past his best athletically, Kirwan held his own in 35 top-grade games and was lauded – ironically – for the professionalism he brought to the fledgling outfit.
Kirwan returned to union for a late payday with Japanese club NEC Rockets, who subsequently gave him his start in coaching.
He later had coaching stints with the Italy and Japan national sides, plus the Blues Super Rugby franchise.
Kirwan was knighted in 2007 for his services to mental health.
Craig Innes
A 17-Test All Black from 1989-91 and midfield staple of the dominant Auckland provincial team, Innes jumped to league with Leeds in 1992 and had a stint with Western Reds during their 1995 debut campaign.
Innes linked with Manly and won a premiership in 1996 and played in another grand final in ’97.
Regarded by many as the best centre in the game, Innes’ ARL allegiance prevented him from becoming a dual international but he represented Rest of the World in a Test against Australia in 1997.
Innes subsequently returned to rugby union and played three Super 12 seasons with the Blues.
Va’aiga Tuigamala
‘Inga the Winger’ was a terrifying pocket battleship for the All Blacks from 1989-93 – enjoying a tremendous rivalry with legendary Wallaby David Campese – before taking the big bucks on offer alongside former international union teammate Botica.
Tuigamala became a fan favourite in 102 games for the cherry-and-whites, earning widespread respect as a centre in his new code and representing Western Samoa at the 1995 Rugby League World Cup.
The powerhouse returned to the 15-a-side game with English clubs Wasps and Newcastle, ultimately playing 23 union Tests for Samoa. ‘Inga’ sadly passed away in 2022, aged just 52.
Marc Ellis
Versatile and flamboyant Otago back Ellis played 21 Tests for the All Blacks from 1992-95, a tenure perhaps most remembered for scoring a record six tries in a ’95 World Cup mauling of Japan.
The wavy-haired larrikin was a modest success for the Warriors at best, but he became a dual international with five Tests for the Kiwis in 1996 before being given a release from his gigantic contract during 1998.
Ellis returned to the now-professional rugby union and had Super 12 stints with the Blues and Highlanders.
Andrew Walker
Sublimely gifted Nowra product Walker won a premiership with Randwick in 1991 under Eddie Jones as a 17-year-old but switched codes and debuted for St George the following season.
A five-season stay with Sydney Roosters garnered a Test for the Kangaroos in 1996 for the Indigenous five-eighth/fullback.
Walker became the first league-to-union convert to represent the Wallabies, playing seven Tests in 2000-01 and won a Super 12 title with the Brumbies in ’01.
Disciplinary issues preceded a return to the NRL with Manly, but after playing every game in 2004 a two-year ban for cocaine use saw his career stall again.
Walker’s colourful journey then took in a stint in French rugby union, two seasons with Queensland Reds, a brief stay with Ipswich rugby league club Goodna Eagles, and one match for Randwick against Argentina as a 45-year-old in 2019.
Brad Thorn
A Brisbane Broncos premiership winner and Queensland Origin and Kangaroos Test forward, Thorn was publicly mocked by New Zealand dual international Matthew Ridge when he revealed his All Black ambitions in the late-1990s.
But after winning a third grand final with the Broncos in 2000, Christchurch-born Thorn joined the Crusaders and – after initially turning down an All Blacks call-up in 2001 – debuted in the famed black jersey in 2003.
Thorn returned to the Broncos in 2005, earning an Origin recall and exiting the NRL in grand final glory in ’06.
Aging like fine wine, the giant lock went back to union and finished with 59 Tests for the All Blacks – culminating in long-awaited World Cup success in 2011.
Thorn played Super Rugby until the age of 39, joining the Highlanders after eight decorated campaigns for the Crusaders, and took over as Queensland Reds’ coach in 2018.
Nathan Blacklock
One of the great entertainers and most prolific tryscorers of the NRL era, Indigenous wing wizard Blacklock led the competition’s tryscoring and won the Dally M Winger of the Year gong in three consecutive seasons (1999-2001), culminating in a Kangaroo Tour call-up at the end of 2001.
The St George Illawarra trump was continually overlooked by NSW selectors, however, and midway through 2002 gained a release to join Super Rugby’s Waratahs.
He lasted just five games in union, returning to the Dragons in 2003.
Blacklock retired at the end of 2004 with the mind-blowing strike-rate of 121 tries in 142 first-grade games.
Wendell Sailor
The first massive fish to be lured from league to union, the brash and brilliant Sailor was the 13-a-side code’s premier winger from 1995 until he took the ARU bait at the end of 2001, scoring 110 tries in 189 games for the Broncos, playing 14 Origins for Queensland and crossing for 17 tries in as many Tests for Australia.
Sailor had dabbled with union during an off-season stint with Leeds Tykes in the late-1990s and, while he wasn’t as dominant as perhaps anticipated in his code switch, he played 37 Tests for the Wallabies and scored 13 tries.
Banned for two years in 2006 after testing positive to cocaine, Sailor served his time and returned to the NRL for a memorable 33-game stint with the Dragons, retiring in 2009 after again coming under the coaching of Wayne Bennett.
The 35-year-old’s last outing was for the Indigenous team in the inaugural All Stars match in 2010.
Lote Tuqiri
Athletic Fiji-born flyer Tuqiri followed former Brisbane wing partner Sailor to the rugby union ranks 12 months later, having won an NRL grand final in 2000 and represented Queensland and Australia in 2001-02.
Tuqiri was a genuine code-switch success story, scoring 30 tries in 67 Tests for the Wallabies and playing 89 Super Rugby games for the Waratahs.
But after the abrupt and unexplained termination of his contract in 2009, he was snapped up by Wests Tigers.
Tuqiri made a spectacular return to the NRL, scoring 18 tries for the Tigers in 2010 and earning a Kangaroos recall for the end-of-year Four Nations.
Injuries stymied subsequent seasons but (after a brief stint with Leinster rugby union) he retired in glory as part of South Sydney’s 2014 grand final-winning combination.
Mat Rogers
The 1995 Dally M Rookie of the Year was a goalkicking, tryscoring weapon on the wing in 123 games for Cronulla, racking up 75 tries and 1,112 points.
He also played 11 Tests for Australia and five Origins for Queensland from 1998-2000.
But Rogers joined the rugby union exodus at the end of 2001, satiating his desire to be regarded as something more than ‘just a winger’.
He played 45 Tests for the Wallabies at fullback, wing, centre and flyhalf, scoring 14 tries and 163 points (a record 42 coming in a World Cup match against Namibia).
Following the tragic death of his father, league legend Steve, Rogers returned to the NRL as a foundation Gold Coast Titan, starring at centre and five-eighth and ultimately passing the 200-game and 100-try milestones in first grade before hanging up the boots in 2011.
Timana Tahu
Tahu garnered a reputation as one of his era’s most talented three-quarters at Newcastle (where he won a grand final in 2001) and Parramatta from 1999-2007, scoring more than 100 NRL tries and representing Australia (five Tests) and NSW (11 Origins).
Tahu was a prized signing for the ARU and the Waratahs in 2008, but although he played four Tests for the Wallabies across two seasons the switch was generally regarded as a disappointment.
Rejoining the Eels in 2010, his rep return was overshadowed by his withdrawal from the Blues’ Origin camp over a racist remark made by assistant coach Andrew Johns about Maroons star Greg Inglis.
But he played on in the NRL until 2014, having a year at Penrith and finishing back at Newcastle.
Craig Gower
Halfback/hooker Gower became a Penrith legend in 238 games from 1996-2007, captaining the club to the 2003 premiership and representing NSW (six Origins) and Australia (18 Tests).
The off-field bad boy switched codes with French club Bayonne in 2008 and represented Italy – qualifying through his grandfather’s heritage – in 14 rugby union Tests from 2009-11.
After the 2011 Rugby World Cup, Gower joined Super League outfit London Broncos and made a brief NRL return in 2013 with Newcastle.
Mark Gasnier
Gasnier left the NRL at the height of his powers at the end of 2008, having earned 15 Australian Test caps, nine Origin appearances for NSW and two Dally M Centre of the Year nods during nine seasons at St George Illawarra.
He spent two Northern Hemisphere winters with French rugby union heavyweights Stade Francais but returned to the Dragons midway through 2010 – just in time to score the first try of their drought-breaking 32-8 grand final victory over the Roosters.
Gasnier received a Blues recall for the 2011 series but hung up the boots at the end of the season, aged just 30.
Sonny Bill Williams
A code-hopping megastar, SBW had three stints in the NRL and two with the All Blacks – along with a lengthy flirtation with pro boxing – from 2004-2020.
Auckland-born Williams won an NRL grand final as a Bulldogs rookie and debuted for the Kiwis in 2004. He was one of the game’s biggest drawcards – and just half a season into a five-year contract – when he sensationally walked out on the Bulldogs in 2008 to play French rugby.
After two seasons at Toulon, Williams joined the Crusaders and broke into the All Blacks in 2010.
He came off the bench in their 2011 Rugby World Cup final triumph then helped the Chiefs to a maiden Super Rugby title in 2012.
Williams, a midfield back in union, made a remarkable return to the pack in rugby league with the Roosters in 2013, playing a huge role in the club’s premiership that year.
He jumped back to union in 2015 and won another World Cup, ultimately finishing with 58 caps for the All Blacks.
The veteran had one last code switch in him: Williams joined Super League sensations Toronto Wolfpack in 2020 and, after COVID put the kybosh on the Canadian club, had a late-season stint back at the Roosters.
Sam Burgess
A fierce rival of SBW’s at NRL and international rugby league level, British enforcer Burgess followed Williams’ lead after inspiring South Sydney to grand final ecstasy in 2014 with a Churchill Medal-winning performance despite smashing his cheekbone in the opening tackle of the decider.
Burgess signed with the English Rugby Union and Bath, but his move to the backline was not as seamless as SBW’s. He played five Tests for England but bailed after the host nation’s humiliating pool-stage exit at the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
Returning to the Rabbitohs, Burgess regained his status as one of rugby league’s premier forwards and helped his club to the preliminary final stage in 2018-19.
Karmichael Hunt
A triple code star, the ultra-versatile Hunt started and finished his professional sporting odyssey in the NRL with Brisbane Broncos.
Hunt was a 17-year-old debutant for the Broncos in 2004 and made his Queensland and Australian debuts two seasons later while still a teenager.
The courageous fullback shocked fans across the nation by joining fledgling AFL franchise Gold Coast Suns in 2010.
He had a short-term deal with French rugby union club Biarritz en route to the Suns.
Though far from a star in Australian Rules, he played 44 AFL games over four seasons – including an after-the-siren match-winner during 2012.
Hunt signed with Queensland Reds in 2015 and played six Tests for the Wallabies during the 2017 season.
After two season with the Waratahs, he returned to the rugby league ranks with Souths Logan Magpies and was called up for two NRL games for the battling Broncos during 2021.
Jarryd Hayne
Soon after winning his second Dally M Medal in 2014, Parramatta and NSW superstar Hayne made headlines by fulfilling a long-held ambition and signing with NFL franchise San Francisco 49ers.
Against the odds, the 27-year-old earned a spot on the 49ers’ 53-man roster, making his NFL debut in Week 1 of the 2015 season but spent the 2015 season switching between the active roster and practice squad.
Hayne walked away from the NFL after the 2015 season as the 49ers began a roster overhaul and set his sights closer to home.
Trying his hand at rugby sevens, Hayne returned to the NRL after failing to win selection in Fiji’s squad for the Rio Olympics.
He instead linked with Gold Coast Titans late in 2016 and headed back to the Eels for a farewell season with the Eels in 2018.
Valentine Holmes
Holmes was an NRL premiership winner and a Maroons and Kangaroos regular when he announced at the end of 2018 he would be leaving Cronulla to give gridiron a crack.
The powerful ball-runner was signed by New York Jets as part of the NFL’s International Player Pathway program and turned out for the franchise in their 2019 pre-season games but was waived during final roster cuts and released from the practice squad in November.
The Townsville product returned to the NRL in 2020 with North Queensland Cowboys, regaining his spots at Origin and Test level.