June form set to decide Tevaga’s future at Warriors

Author: Corey Rosser NRL Reporter
Timestamp: Sat 8 Jun 2024, 06:01 AM

Jazz Tevaga knows the clock is ticking on his hopes of securing an upgraded offer from the Warriors to remain in Auckland beyond 2024, with the next month likely to determine his playing future.

The 28-year-old forward says he's been in communication with the club to play on for a 10th season at Go Media Stadium, but at this stage he remains the only Warrior other than Shaun Johnson without a deal in place for 2025.

While eager to remain in Auckland, with he and partner Kiri-Jane Koia having earlier this year welcomed their first child, Tevaga told pan66.com he’s realistic about the situation.

"It's understandable [they offered a lower value contract] because I've had a few injuries... but the club have said if I come back and play good footy then the offer could change," he said.

If I put a good month together then I have a case to go to the Warriors or whoever.
Jazz Tevaga

“I understand this is a business and they’ve got a good lot of good young guys coming through.”

Tevaga endured a tough start to 2024 off the field when daughter Malia arrived six weeks premature in February, with the stress having an impact on his form through the early rounds.

A month out with a hamstring injury suffered in Round 6 followed, but over the past three games he's shown signs of a return to the style of play which made him a valued addition to the Warriors' bench last year.

“I just had to find my feet again. When all our key players were in it was tough to make the team, and I'm not saying them being out has been a good thing, but it's given me a chance to showcase what I can do again,” Tevaga said.

“I've been getting some good minutes and showcasing what I can do.

“Off field is a lot more sorted, baby is well, mum's happy, so all I have to do is focus on footy.

“At the start of the year I was thinking about it a lot and it was playing on my mind, I had a lot of anxiety and it was showing in my performances; I wasn't playing well.

“Now my mind is a lot clearer and I feel like it's showing in my footy as well.”

Tevaga is set to play his fourth-straight NRL game this Saturday against the Cowboys, as part of a Warriors side which will welcome back over 800 games worth of NRL experience for the trip to Townsville.

Coach Andrew Webster – who confirmed Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck are also both a chance to return the following week in Round 15 – said it was a tough call this week to overlook some of the lesser-known players who helped them to back-to-back wins last month.

Cowboys v Warriors: Round 14

With Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad back from illness there's no room for Taine Tuaupiki, who starred in the Magic Round win over the Panthers before missing Round 12 for the birth of his child, while Bunty Afoa misses out after starting at prop in the club's last three games.

"I'm excited to have them [returning] because they are good players, but the guys that have been there the last couple of weeks deserve a lot of praise too," Webster said.

"It was hard that Taine wasn't in the team, put it that way.

"There were so many hard luck stories this week."

Round 14 - Round 14 - Saturday 8 Jun

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