When news reached Warriors fans ears that Roger Tuivasa-Sheck would be returning to Mount Smart, there was one obvious question to ask.

Would he be granted an early release from his New Zealand Rugby contract with the Blues, allowing him to re-join the Warriors mid-season?

Remember, it was an early release granted by the Warriors that allowed him to sign with NZR.

The thirst for an answer to this question has only intensified for the Warriors faithful as Tuivasa-Sheck fell out of favour at the Auckland Super Rugby franchise and reached Sahara-levels when he was omitted from Ian Foster’s All Blacks Rugby Championship side on Sunday night.

The Big League Podcast’s Nathan Limm - speaking directly to Roger Tuivasa-Sheck during this week’s episode – said there was no reason he should not begin training and integrating his way back into the club this year.

As rational as a Warriors fan on the cusp of welcoming one of their favourite sons home can be, Limm remains realistic about the chances of RTS actually taking the field – alluding to the form of Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and the need for RTS to acclimatise back to playing rugby league after nearly three years away from the game.

“I don’t expect you to return and play this year, despite the hundreds and probably thousands of people calling for you to be in a Warriors jumper in the next few weeks.”

Not to be drawn in to any speculation when asked at media day, Warriors coach Andrew Webster was quick to pour cold water over the question of RTS returning this year.

“I’ve not mentioned that to anyone that Roger will be coming, no one’s ever mentioned that to me, barring people in the public and media. I haven’t heard it from anywhere internally and certainly have not spoken to Roger about that.”

As the All Blacks Rugby Championship side was only announced on Sunday, Webster’s comments on the following Tuesday may be entirely true – there may have been no contact between the camps regarding an early return – but The Big League Podcast’s Michael Burgess leaves the door open for some hope to remain for Warriors fans.

“There may be conversations later this week, they may pick up the phone and talk to Roger’s agent, talk to other people, who knows. But, I think he was genuine there.”

Listen to all episodes of The Big League Podcast here - or wherever you get your podcasts.