Interim New Zealand Warriors coach Todd Payten has revealed exactly why his skipper Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has found another gear in recent weeks.

Tuivasa-Sheck has been one of the team’s best in the most trying of seasons and RTS is the only player that hasn’t had his family with him for the entire season. But to his standards, he hasn’t been quite himself.

“At times he was frustrated, upset, disappointed, all those feelings which have affected some of his football and training,” Payten told Newstalk ZB.

“But during the last month he’s seen the finish line in sight [and] been a lot clearer in his own mind and it’s shown in his performance.

“He’s led the club admirably. He felt obligated to lead the team and done a really good job of that.”

There is still talk Tuivasa-Sheck could leave the Warriors for rugby union in 2021 if the team doesn’t return to Auckland for their next campaign… such is his desperation to get home.