General Who is Matt Rua?

[Wiki_old]

Excuse my ignorance as I haven't been in the league circle for THAT long.

Who is this guy?

Seen here at the Warriors training session taken Wed 17th May 2006?

It has this caption:

Former Kiwis second rower Matt Rua at the Warriors training session held at Ericsson Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand, on Wednesday 17 May, 2006. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/PHOTOSPORT

Okay, so that explains that he is an ex-Kiwi.

But what is he doing at the training session wearing training gear? Coaching position or player? Are they looking at him? Why isn't he in the squad?

He looks old, am I missing something? Fill me in league gods!

 

[Wiki_old]

Further investigation shows that he played for Melbourne Storm.

 

[Swanley_old]

signed for Canberra and then had girlfriend issues, stopped playing for a while.

Fantastic tackler.

 

[Wiki_old]

signed for Canberra and then had girlfriend issues, stopped playing for a while.

Fantastic tackler.

Yeah, I typed him into Google and some people had good things to say about his tackling.

So why is he in a Warriors jumper?

Is he retired? How old is he?

 

[Wiki_old]

Apparently signed with us for the 05 season according to one source.

Its quite funny to read the statements after we signed him, Ruben and Pricey. They were like "warriors for gf next year" , "they will be top 4 easily" ...Damn how it all changed haha.

So what happened to him? And why has he shown up again?!

Dun, dun, dun.

 

[Tajhay_old]

matt rua was in the warriors squad ages ago wasnt he....maybe played a few games before he was released...was average...then went to storm and became a integral part of their team week in week out. voted best tackler heaps of times. he could really hit.

i remember a few people mentioned he was back in auckland and would sign for the warriors last year. could be a handy pickup. would be 30/31?

 

[STRIDER_old]

Was voted a few seasons ago the most feared player in NRl For his tackling

 

[Tajhay_old]

just found out he is 28 and playing for waitakere rangers......

further googling reveals he played atleast 9 tests...and was good enough to keep logan swann, and ali lauitiiti out of the starting team.....

 

[edguy_old]

well toops is leaving {wigan} he will still be a warrior though , so we will have a spare space.....

 

[Skinner_old]

I cannot believe this thread......~shakes head~

 

[MarkW_old]

Wigan have reportedly withdrawn their offer to Toopi, having just signed Phil Bailey. So, I guess he'll be looking at other clubs. Possibly Leeds or St Helens according to the press.

 

[ozbash_old]

I cannot believe this thread......~shakes head~

lol, they gotta learn somewhere skinner.

matty rua and steve kearney together were a sight to behold.

 

[AliN_old]

dear oh dear, I'm with Skinner.... don't shake your head too much tho, something will start to rattle!

 

[Bulldog_old]

I've come to the conclusion that there are some members of this board who have not been league followers for long...and there's nothing really wrong with that.

 

[Skinner_old]

I've come to the conclusion that there are some members of this board who have not been league followers for long...and there's nothing really wrong with that.

You are absolutely right Bulldog - as MrBash says, they have to
start somewhere. I sometimes forget that we are not all gnarly
old league fans who have been around for about a hundred years
like me

 

[tezzah_old]

Seeing him play I rekon he's not that great as he once was. He's lost so much muscle and at times looks like a liability for the Waitakere team! Good luck to him however. We all know the Warriors are using up so many players- some out of form and some due to injury. Hopefully Bernie worked on the little chinks in Matty's armour since arriving back to play league in NZ! Dude needs some serious waking up to so I rekon the Warriors are tryna wake up that 'demon' inside of him that made him the most feared player ever!

 

[Bulldog_old]

Seeing him play I rekon he's not that great as he once was. He's lost so much muscle and at times looks like a liability for the Waitakere team! Good luck to him however. We all know the Warriors are using up so many players- some out of form and some due to injury. Hopefully Bernie worked on the little chinks in Matty's armour since arriving back to play league in NZ! Dude needs some serious waking up to so I rekon the Warriors are tryna wake up that 'demon' inside of him that made him the most feared player ever!

yeah, he does look a bit on the lean side, and he didnt look like the Matt Rua of old from the Rangers' games that I've watched, but you could be right Tezzah, maybe the time spent training with the Warriors will give him the spark that reignites that Raro power. At 28, he has a few years left and could bring that needed exeprience into the Warriors pack, if he makes it back to first grade.

 

[Esoj_old]

matt rua now there is a guy worth signing instead of lavea. who knows what might happen with rua but if regains some of his former form etc would be good pick up for the warriors.

 

[Wiki_old]

I've come to the conclusion that there are some members of this board who have not been league followers for long...and there's nothing really wrong with that.

I haven't been.

I have only been seriously following the Warriors for perhaps the last 3 years. I watched games as a kid, but can't remember much. I remember having posters all over my wall though. I started watching again around 2001, although not very seriously and then its slowly built from there.

Last two seasons I wouldn't miss a game.

 

[Wiki_old]

Oh so, I see he is not signed for the Warriors ...he is playing for the Rangers.

What is he doing in a Warriors jumper?