Roosters attacking sensation Roger Tuivasa-Sheck says he needed to have done a lot better in his side's 20-18 qualifying final loss to Melbourne on Friday night and has vowed this week's semi final against the Bulldogs won't be his last in Roosters colours.
It's a tough report card for a 22-year-old who has blitzed all expectations in his first year in the No.1 jersey, lapping the field in total running metres and showing incredible consistency in attack, under pressure and in organising in defence.
But he produced a couple of costly errors against Melbourne in his toughest game for some time and was despite being despondent afterwards the Warriors-bound fullback said he had every intention of playing three more games in red, white and blue before he departs.
"I'm hoping it won't be [my last game at the Roosters next week]," Tuivasa-Sheck said after the loss.
"I'm still looking beyond. We still have three more games in my head and I see that happening. I'm confident in my team."
Tuivasa-Sheck admitted the Storm, and particular experienced kickers Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk, had caught him off guard in some plays.
"I could've done a lot better in some areas," he said.
"I felt like I could've executed a lot of those plays to help us get out of trouble. It's all the little things that stuff us up. Small things created big errors and I guess that's how we lost the game.
"There were small things that we need to work on like small errors around the try line and catching the ball on the full. There's a lot on my behalf on the line and organisation. Little things we need to check up on.
"It was tough. We were stuck in between relaxing because it's a final but the intensity is picking up. A bit of mixed emotions. We lost it for ourselves – small errors and not completing our good ball sets."
Despite the loss Tuivasa-Sheck said the Roosters were upbeat and captain Jake Friend had addressed the group after full-time.
"Jake Friend was awesome after the game to get us in tight and tell us 'we're still on here' and there is another game next week. The positive for me I get to play a couple more games with my boys and I love that!
"The boys are still sticking strong, there is a good vibe now. It was pretty sad we lost the game [but] James Maloney and all the senior players have got the boys going again. It's a good feeling."
