New Zealand Warriors captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has revealed he still wants to skipper the side, despite a torrid debut season at the helm.
The 24-year-old told Newshub on Thursday morning that he'd be happy to remain captain of the under-fire NRL club in 2018, if that's what coach Stephen Kearney plans.
However with Kiwis skipper Adam Blair set to join the club next year, it could give Kearney the opportunity to relieve Tuivasa-Sheck of the captaincy.
Lowering his leadership resbonsibilities is seen as a way of helping the halfback rediscover the electric form he enjoyed at previous club the Sydney Roosters.
However Tuivasa-Sheck says he's enjoyed much of the captaincy despite a woeful season - and says if it's in the best interests of the club, he'd like to continue in the role.
"A lot of lessons can be taken from this year," Tuivasa-Sheck told Newshub.
"I don't think I did a lot of great things, there is a lot of stuff that I can learn, and I will look back at that over the next couple of days during our reviews.
"If I can just do what I do (on the field), I hope that I can get the team to buy into it - I enjoy the captaincy and I enjoy helping the players.
"If it's good for the team then I will continue to do it."
An NRL Premiership winner with the Roosters in 2013, Tuivasa-Sheck is envious of his former club, who will start their finals campaign on Friday night against the Brisbane Broncos.
With the dynamic fullback off-contract at the end of next season, a move back to Sydney could be on the cards - although the 12-Test Kiwi isn't contemplating that or a switch to rugby union just yet.
"I'm still stuck in 2017," he said.
"The disappointment of missing out on the playoffs - I just really want to go through the process of the review and focus on that.
"By the time 2018 comes around then I can focus on that. I haven't looked beyond what I am doing now."
Tuivasa-Sheck was a standout schoolboy rugby prospect, playing alongside the likes of Ngani Laumape, TJ Perenara and Ardie Savea in the New Zealand secondary schools side.
With Laumape now firmly in the All Blacks selection frame, a black jersey wouldn't be that far- fetched of a dream for the Samoan born NRL star.
Tuivasa-Sheck acknowledged that playing in the black jersey is something he has thought about, but earning a Kiwis jersey for the upcoming Rugby league World Cup is his sole focus.
"You can't hide the fact that every Kiwi boy wants to play rugby - it's that All Blacks dream. If you grew up here then you want to be an All Black," he said.
"At this stage my head is into getting this team better. I don't want to stop training - I felt I was just starting to find my rhythm getting back into my game mode.
"I'm looking forward to hopefully joining the World Cup team."
A 30-10 loss for the Kiwis against the Kangaroos in May was followed by off-field dramas, which ended in the national team suspensions of Kenny Bromwich and Kevin Procter.
Tuivasa-Sheck believes the team has the opportunity to write those wrongs later in the year.
"It's been a long break since the Anzac Test so hopefully we can get a new start," he said.
"Being based here in New Zealand, that's one of the great things about it. I think we will be doing a lot of cultural stuff so hopefully we can come in fresh."
The Kiwis' first tournament match is against Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium, on October 28.
Newshub.
