George Gatis resigned to Warriors for one more year
VODAFONE WARRIORS SIGN HOOKER GATIS FOR ANOTHER YEAR
Hooker George Gatis is to stay with the Vodafone Warriors for another year.
The club today announced it had exercised its option and upgraded Gatis from the incentive-based contract he’s been on this year.
When he arrived in Auckland, the 28-year-old Queenslander hadn’t played in the NRL since his 24th and last appearance for the North Queensland Cowboys in 2003.
“I’d been out of the NRL for a long time after some injuries,” he said.
“I came to the Vodafone Warriors with the goal of breaking back into first-grade and it’s been great to achieve that.
“I’m enjoying it in Auckland and I like what’s happening at the club. We’ve made a lot of progress as a team and there’s a really good feeling around the place.
“I want to be part of things next year and give myself the best possible chance of playing more first-grade games.”
Gatis had been considering returning to Townsville to help with the family fish business after a year out of it in Auckland.
“That was something I had to think about but I spoke to my Dad and he’s happy to keep going over there and for me to stay with the Vodafone Warriors to keep playing football,” he said.
Vodafone Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary said Gatis had added a lot to the team after arriving for off-season training in late October.
“He has brought a great attitude to the club in the way he plays and trains as well as his personal qualities,” he said.
“He’s an example of the sort of player and person we need as we try to create the environment and culture we’re after.”
Gatis, who started his first-grade career in 2001, played his first NRL match in close to three years when he made his debut for his new club in the 26-10 win against Wests Tigers in Christchurch on March 25.
That started a sequence of 10 consecutive appearances before he was replaced on the interchange bench by Lance Hohaia. That allowed him to have more game time with the Counties Manukau Jetz in the Bartercard Cup before returning in his bench role for the Vodafone Warriors’ clash against Parramatta on July 15.
Last night’s match against Penrith was his 12th for the club and his 36th career appearance.
GEORGE GATIS
Born: March 25, 1978
Birthplace: Townsville, Queensland
Position: Hooker
Height: 174cm
Weight: 89kg
Junior Club: Centrals (Townsville)
NRL Debut: North Queensland v Wests Tigers, Leichhardt Oval, July 14, 2001 (Round 19)
Vodafone Warriors Debut: v Wests Tigers, Jade Stadium, March 25, 2006 (Round 3)
NRL Career: 36 appearances
North Queensland (2001-03) – 24 games, 16 points
Vodafone Warriors (2006) – 12 games, 4 points
NRL Points: 20 (5 tries)
Educated: Kirwan High School (Kirwan), Pimlico High School (Townsville)
www.warriors.co.nz
Leaves George Tuakara and Cooper Vuna of current top 25 players off contract and takes the club to 23 out of 25 positions for next year filfulled.
