All Blacks halfback TJ Perenara said among the considerations for his future was a one-off option to finish the 2021 season with the Roosters in the NRL and then return to New Zealand rugby through to the 2023 Rugby World Cup.
Perenara said on a Zoom conference call from Japan, with All Blacks teammates Beauden Barrett and Brodie Retallick, that he didn't know what signing with the Roosters might look like yet.
There were different scenarios on the table, but he and his wife hadn't come to a decision yet, he said.
"It is a scenario to play out this season and then hopefully sign back in New Zealand, but then there's also the speculation of signing on for the rest of this year and potentially staying on, or signing on and coming to Japan.
"So there's a lot of water to go under the bridge before we get to that but it's all really exciting at the moment," he said.
Part of the reason for not having firmed on a decision was respecting his Japanese club's, the Red Hurricanes, bid for a finals place in their competition.
Perenara said his interest in the Roosters was genuine. He knew it would be a challenge, but it was something he had thought about during his career. He had played league when he was younger, and in contract years, he had often thought about whether the time was right to make the change.
He said there would be changes in the physical requirements to play league, but he felt he could adjust.
"It will take some getting used to. I don't think it is something I'd be able to walk into tomorrow and be able to do without noticing the difference. But conditioning myself once the decision is made, from that point of time to game one, is something I will have to do and something I will have to put a lot of time and effort into doing. But it is something that I don't think would be the biggest challenge," he said.
Relationship building with teammates would be the main requirement, he said.
On another league matter of interest for the Blues, Barrett said he was excited about Roger Tuivasa-Sheck coming to rugby and the Auckland-based side.
"I know he has desires to wear the black jersey and, firstly, at the Blues, I am looking forward to playing with him. I'm a big fan of his. I've seen what he does on the league field.
"His strength as a ball-carrier, a runner…I'm not sure where he will play, but he'll be a great addition to our already talented backline. It's exciting," he said.
Perenara said he believed Tuivasa-Sheck would have an impact on the game in New Zealand.
"He's an out-and-out athlete. He was awesome when he was on the wing for the Roosters and then came over to the Warriors playing fullback. I'm pretty sure he won the Dally M [Dally Messenger Medal], and he's been in the conversation most years for it, a top-tier fullback in the NRL.
"Having an asset like that in New Zealand rugby is only going to be good and for players within the position wherever he ends up to have someone like that to compete against on a day-to-day basis for the Blues and then on a week-to-week basis for New Zealand rugby players in that position.
"I think it is only a positive thing," he said.