Arguably the biggest positional battle in the NRL right now is brewing in New Zealand, with Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck competing for the Warriors’ fullback position.
Following a triumphant performance in his return to fullback, Tuivasa-Sheck showed he’s not lost any of his damaging ability, guiding the Warriors to an 8-point win over the Newcastle Knights.
However, Tuivasa-Sheck’s comeback has left coach Andrew Webster with a selection headache; return 'RTS' to the position he won a Dally M Medal in back in 2018 or stay loyal to Nicoll-Klokstad who helped the Warriors to their first top four appearance since 2007.
SENQ's Corey Parker says he would give Nicoll-Klokstad the first chance.
“I personally would be giving the opportunity to Charnze to go back into the number one jersey and make it his own based on the loyalty that he’s shown and what he was able to provide the year before,” Parker said on SENQ Mornings.
“Let’s not gloss over the fact that the Warriors last year finished in the top four… who was their number one? It was Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.”
Parker concedes however, that Nicoll-Klokstad will need to be at his best to hold off Tuivasa-Sheck.
“Unbelievable, wasn’t he?,” Parker said about Tuivasa-Sheck’s performance against the Knights.
“Close to 300 run metres, half a dozen tackle breaks, absolutely instrumental defensively, offensively.
“It’s gonna be a conversation that needs to be had. Now, Charnze has played in the centres before, he played centres for the Kiwis so that can happen, but it’s gonna be a bit of a headache, but it’s one of those headaches you wouldn’t mind having as a coach.”
Parker also joked about Tuivasa-Sheck’s incredible agility, the trademark of the former Rugby convert’s career.
“I’ve been in that situation before, where you think you got him, you think you got him, and then you can’t even touch him," Parker added.
Nicoll-Klokstad is expected to return from injury on Saturday against the South Sydney Rabbitohs, where it is expected coach Andrew Webster will name him at fullback.