'I'm keen as to take his head off': Tevaga eyes ultimate bragging rights in return to Mt Smart

Stephen Foote • March 12th, 2025 3:30 pm

Photo: Photosport

Friday's showdown with the Sea Eagles will double as a homecoming for one of the Warriors' stalwarts, with Jazz Tevaga back on very familiar grounds - but wearing rather unfamiliar colours.

A veteran of 138 games over eight years for the Warriors - the club with which he rose through the ranks and found his professional footing - Tevaga will run out on Go Media Stadium in maroon alongside his new teammates to try and spoil the Warriors 2025 home opener.

Tevaga - who inked a one-year deal with Manly last year - admits being on the other side of that ledger is "definitely going to feel weird" but it certainly won't deter the on-field smack talk with his old mates once the whistle blows.

In fact, he already has a plan of attack.

"I hope the crowd doesn't boo me too much," Tevaga told Sport Nation's Running It Straight.

"But I'm hoping we have a good win and then I can give the boys shit.

"I'm going to wait to see how the game goes. If we get up by a few tries, then I'll start talking shit… get up maybe two, three tries and I'm going, 'you guys are shit'.

"But if we're not up early, then I'll just keep my mouth shut and keep playing."

And there'll be no time for pleasantries, Tevaga adds, with his sights squarely set on one prime target he's hoping to get some physical retribution with.

Bald brother or not, there's no love lost.

"If there's one fella I want to chuck a shot on, it will definitely be (Dylan Walker)," he laughed.

"I'm keen as to take his head off, for sure."

Tevaga concedes there was more than a little bit of envy when the Warriors were called up to be part of this year's season-opening festivities in Las Vegas, particularly since he's unlikely to be making the trip any year soon with the Sea Eagles, given Manly got the nod in 2024.

Jazz Tevaga & Dylan Walker | Photo: Photosport

But the schadenfreude was strong in Tevaga, who says he may have got a tad carried away with his messaging in the aftermath of the Warriors capitulation against the Raiders, as he ruthlessly revelled in his former team's demise.

"I was really jealous. I was having a few beers with the old man watching the game, and I was just sending them my videos just laughing at them and the scoreboard.

"I didn't get many responses. Maybe I went a bit too far."His ex-teammates will have a golden opportunity for some payback of their own on Friday against Tevaga's new side, who were one of the stand-out teams from Round 1 courtesy of a 41-12 demolition of the North Queensland Cowboys.

The 29-year-old will again be a part of the run-on side, donning the No. 9 jersey representative of his newfound role as starting hooker.

While he filled in at rake off the bench occasionally in his role as a utility, being asked to set the tone from the start is a different proposition.

With regular Lachlan Croker injured, Tevaga says Manly coach Anthony Seibold made the move as a means of taking some of the sting out of the opposition early for youngster Jake Simpkins to take advantage of later in the contest.

The transition hasn't been without its growing pains.

"It was a bit nerve wracking at first," Tevaga explains. "Had to bend the old back again. Had to get rid of the rainbow passes that I used to throw.

"I told (Daly Cherry-Evans) 'you've got to stand a bit closer bro and stretch your hamstrings. After 10 minutes of tackling, these balls could go anywhere'."

All in all, the proud South Aucklander is content with his trans-Tasman move and relishing his new home amid Sydney's glamorous northern beaches

"I'm definitely the new kid on the block," he joked.

"The beaches have been mad but it's a bit different than Papakura - that's for sure."

Listen to the full latest episode of 'Running It Straight' below: