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[mosh_old]

Wiki Extends Contract With Warriors
View larger imageRuben Wiki©Getty Images / Phil Walter
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12/04/2006XtraMSNWarriors vice-captain Ruben Wiki has extended his contract with the club to the end of the 2008 NRL season.

Wednesday's announcement adds to a special week for the 33-year-old Kiwi skipper as he prepares to become just the 49th player in the competition's 98-year history to appear in 250 first-grade matches.

He's set to achieve the feat in unusual circumstances on Saturday night when he has his first experience of playing in Canberra for the Warriors.

CEO Wayne Scurrah said the club was thrilled to retain Wiki's services for another year.

"We value Ruben's leadership and personal qualities extremely highly," said Scurrah.

"He was considering seeing out his career in the English Super League but it was vital for us to keep him here.

"As the Kiwi captain, he's respected as an outstanding New Zealander and we're delighted he's agreed to stay on."

Wiki is excited about extending his NRL career into a 16th season in 2008.

"It's been a great move coming home to Auckland with my family and I couldn't be happier with the Warriors," he said.

"Right now I'm concerned about this season and helping the club as much as I can.

"By 2008 I'll be 35 but that's just a number. It's all about putting in the work at training."

Wiki has typically downplayed the significance of his 250th first-grade appearance in Canberra on Saturday night.

"I'm not worrying about that," he said.

"I just want to help the team get back into winning form after our loss to Manly."

Wiki made his first-grade debut with Canberra in 1993 and savoured grand final success the following year when the Raiders beat Canterbury.

After 12 seasons and 225 appearances for Canberra, he came home to Auckland in late 2004 on a three-year contract with the Warriors.

He made such an impression he was named the Warriors' player of the year in his debut season with the club.

Later in the year he also won the New Zealand Rugby League's premier player award after leading the Kiwis to their historic Tri-Nations title win against the Kangaroos; during the campaign he became the world record holder for test appearances, lifting his career tally to 50.

 

[mosh_old]

Really nothing to be unhappy about. More of Ruben can only be good for us,
HOWEVER, the prolonging of Brent Webb's contract signing is beggining to worry me. Brent Webb is one of the NRL's best impact players and we need to sign him up quickly.

 

[warrior_girl81_old]

thats heaps good. wiki is a HUGE asset to the warriors. i had no idea he had been playing since 1993. now for webb...getting impatient!!

 

[Iafeta_old]

Great to hear with big Rubes. Hopefully he can rekindle some form, he himself would be the first to admit 2006 hasn't been as good on field as 2005 for him personally. He's a consummate pro, he'll bounce back.

Mosh, I agree, I think its 6 in one hand, half a dozen in the other as far as Toopi and Webb go. I'd be tempted to let Toopi test the open market with the proviso he comes back to the Warriors with his best offer, if they can match it, fine, if not, well at least they know what they're in the market for and how much they have to play with for Brent Webb.

 

[da mad maori]

While the Warriors have not named anybody, they have started talks with players. We all know that Webb and Toopi are near the end of their contracts then one would assume, that those two would be at the top of the list.
On Wiki, yeah I am pleased about that announcement. \
BUT, no talks are going to be with Captain Price. It looks to me that next year will definitly be his last.

 

[sebastian_old]

While the Warriors have not named anybody, they have started talks with players. We all know that Webb and Toopi are near the end of their contracts then one would assume, that those two would be at the top of the list.
On Wiki, yeah I am pleased about that announcement. \
BUT, no talks are going to be with Captain Price. It looks to me that next year will definitly be his last.

Why, prices imput is WAY bigger than wikis, or is it price wants to retire.

 

[Iafeta_old]

I'm fairly sure given what we've all heard that Price will remain at the Warriors in an off field capacity.

Speaking of Toopi/Webb, there have been discussions definitely with Toopi, but he has said regardless he's waiting until June 30, so they might as well bite the bullet now and let him find out if he's staying or going, and with Webb, there was an article a couple of weeks ago where he suggested he was a bit concerned the club hadn't approached him. Wayne Scurrah further backed this by saying the club was still in the process of deciding who they wished to keep and that offers wouldn't be forthcoming until that was decided, Webb included.

 

[Fobin_Hood_old]

Absolutley ridiculous!!! Wiki's getting too old. No disrespect to the man or anything hes an icon for NZ rugby league but I think its time to blood new players. Its time for the Sam Rapira's, the Sonny Fai's and other young props to step up.

 

[Skinny_Ravs82]

As fun and annoying as it can be watching Toopi. Lets face it, when he has a great day he certainly has one; and when it's all going down hill it goes way dow early last year showed.
For Webby, it's hard to really know what is going on there; really that decision is his alone because while he says he is waiting to hear how things go about the club approaching him it also comes down to what he wants.

As for Wiki-well while some might think age is a problem for the man but he doesn't think so and people shouldn't be using that as an excuse. It's like saying Aussie cricketers Shane Warne and Glen McGrath need to go bugger off coz they are getting old.

 

[Iafeta_old]

Absolutley ridiculous!!! Wiki's getting too old. No disrespect to the man or anything hes an icon for NZ rugby league but I think its time to blood new players. Its time for the Sam Rapira's, the Sonny Fai's and other young props to step up.

If the young blokes are good enough, they'll force a spot in the team.

You don't get a spot by default due to age.

No one's got to 50 tests before, Ruben did, and has succeeded with it. He was from memory the player of the year last year for the Warriors, he's in a rut at the moment, but I've got no doubt whatsoever that Ruben Wiki is a terrific asset to the club, on and off the field. The young players, the Rapira's, the Fai's would do well to sit, learn and listen to what this bloke has to say. The power of his presence in both Kiwis, Warriors and Raiders camps is immeasurable for young and old alike.

 

[LeagueNut_old]

Another thing to bear in mind is that we don't want to lose Price & Wiki from the team at the same time - a la Campion & Cleary in 2003. We may have the bodies to take their place, but the loss of too much experience can be damn near impossible to overcome.

 

[MarkW_old]

I think it's befeficial that Wiki will be staying with the club. Those up and comers like Fai etc will get their chance (hopefully this year). And having Wiki around as a mentor is well worth it.
As for Webb, I can't really see another NRL club shelling out 250k+ for him given the limitations of the salary cap. I guess it depends how much the Warriors can afford to pay him given the cap dramas this year. Bear in mind too, he isn't getting the kickbacks offered under Mick's leadership now.
I wouldn't be suprised if he heads to the ESL if the offers here aren't what he is happy with. As for rugby... I can't really see it happening... he's never even played a game and apparently isn't familiar with the rules anyway. The Aussie Union may be interested I suppose... they are a bit thin on the ground as far as class players for the Wallabies are concerned. And with Rogers getting injured every second match there might be a spot for Webb if they can be bothered training him up from scratch.

 

[tmaster_old]

My only concern is how much is it going to cost? If he is on track to make the same amount of coin that he is currently on then I don't think its a good idea.

I know how great he is on and off the field but the reality is that he will be 35 and you have to ask the question how much will he have in the tank then? For 300k a year you could probably get any prop in the competition why not use that money not even all of it to go for someone like Asotasi?

Their could be number of good players availble then who could better serve the team. But if he has-resigned for a much smaller fee then great.

 

[warriors4life_old]

Good stuff, but we need to blood new props for when him and Price are gone. I'm a bit dubious about the title of this forum, I was expecting a new player when it said "new signing".