‘I was very emotional’: Warriors pay tribute to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck with Maori haka
Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has made history, becoming the first Warriors player to take out the Dally M medal.
In a tight race to the finish, the Warriors captain scored 14 points in the last nine rounds of the year, finishing with 29 points, two clear of Newcastle’s Kalyn Ponga who missed the final game due to injury.
As his name was announced the fullback made his way onto the stage and was presented the medal by retiring Johnathan Thurston and Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
A humble speech from the 25-year-old was met with thunderous applause before teammate Isaac Luke stood up and broke into a traditional Maori haka.
The function room watched in awe as other New Zealander’s, including rookie of the year Jamayne Isaako, followed suit.
See the incredible tribute below
That’s what respect looks like!#DallyM#NRL pic.twitter.com/1Xfjeupo8B
— NRL (@NRL) September 26, 2018
He tells Steve Price he was “finding it tough to hold back the emotions”.
“I was very emotional. It was tough to hold it back.
“For them to get up there and perform a haka, honouring me and the award that I won… it means a lot.
“That’s something I’ve seen done a lot to other people and just to have one for me for the first itme, I just had no words for them.
“I was was just finding it tough to hold the emotions.”
Tuivasa-Sheck has also been awarded the NRL’s full-back of the year.
Click PLAY below to hear the full interview below