Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has faced the media less than 24 hours after the announcement of his shock return to the NRL.
The future of the 2018 Dally M medallist and All Black was confirmed on Thursday night with the news he will return to the Warriors from 2024.
Tuivasa-Sheck said the Warriors hot start to the 2023 NRL season, along with the new regime under first-year head coach Andrew Webster, spurred his decision to return to the 13-man code.
"Andrew and the club's success definitely played a role in it," he told media on Friday.
"The way they are playing helped."
Tuivasa-Sheck did not deny speculation offers had been tabled by rival NRL clubs but said staying in his hometown of Auckland was a key motivator.
"(My family) want to be home, we love it here in Auckland and I want my kids to be running around with their cousins, so that was the first option," he said.
After switching codes in 2022 following 10 years in the NRL with the Warriors and the Sydney Roosters, the 29-year-old was called up by the All Blacks after one Super Rugby campaign with the Blues.
His experience was not quite on the scale of other high-profile league converts including Sonny Bill Williams, with New Zealand's national selectors seemingly hesitant to use him in Test matches.
Tuivasa-Sheck earned one start, against Japan, and twice came off the bench for the All Blacks.
"So far, I've been pretty happy with my time in rugby," he said.
"I got to fulfil a childhood dream by pulling on the black jersey."
Despite the stop-start nature of his rugby career, Tuivasa-Sheck has no regrets about his code-switch.
"The only frustrating part has been the injuries," he said.
"It was exciting and it was a challenge. I was going up against David Havili, Jordie Barrett, Rieko Ioane - those players are superstars and I was just lucky to rub shoulders with them.
"There was no frustration, as an athlete I enjoy the challenge of competing against the best.
"I'm coming away with a new outlook and there are things I can potentially take back and ways I can improve my game."
Tuivasa-Sheck is currently injured and will miss the Blues' Super Rugby Pacific clash with the NSW Waratahs on Saturday night at Eden Park.
