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Friend to stay with Warriors.

Rich102

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,764
Nathan Friend is one of the most popular players at the Warriors and fans will see a bit more of him in the future with the hooker agreeing to stay at the club for another year.
It has been a difficult six weeks for the 32-year-old. He was initially told the club wouldn't be taking up their option for another season on him and that he was free to look elsewhere before they came back and said they might be able to offer him a new contract.
That was confirmed two weeks ago when they tabled a one-year extension but Friend asked for time to consider the offer given it was a reduction from his current deal.
He had a couple of offers to continue his career elsewhere but he has decided to stay in Auckland where his young family are well settled, the club confirming last night that he would stay for at least another year.
The Warriors have already signed Cronulla half Chad Townsend and are on the verge of adding England fullback Sam Tomkins, which will put serious pressure on the salary cap.
It had also been assumed Thomas Leuluai would move from five-eighth to hooker next season. That might still be the case, but Leuluai has been one of the Warriors' best players in recent weeks.

Friend is showing signs of wear and tear after 12 seasons in the NRL - he has nerve damage in his shoulder - but has played the last 17 games this season and is an 80-minute player.
e has also been a key player in the Warriors' resurgence and has averaged close to 47 tackles - he sits on 793 tackles for the season and could tip over 1000 tackles in the final four games - and 50m a game.
He's not the sort to break a game open (five offloads and no linebreaks this season) but he rarely makes mistakes (eight errors) or takes the wrong option.
"It's fantastic to have my future sorted out here with the Vodafone Warriors," said Friend.
"While we looked at other options, this is where I wanted to be all along. I couldn't be happier staying with this club."
Head coach Matthew Elliott said securing Friend was a significant boost. "He brings a lot to our club both on the field and off it," he said.
"From the outset our attitude was that we wanted to be able to keep Nathan and we've been able to achieve it. That's brilliant for him and for his family as well as us and also our members and fans.
"It's never easy at times when players are in contract discussions but it's a huge credit to Friendy the way he has handled this situation."

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10912425
 

One Warrior

Bench
Messages
2,789
Excellent news, never wanted him to leave and the club saw the error of their ways before it was too late, unlike earlier occasions.
 

Diesel

Referee
Messages
23,790
I was thinking with Friend and Tomkins the competition for the backs is going to be pretty awesome for 2014.

Lets hope Tomkins comes however this is good news.

On a side note, I've gotta hand it to Elliott that he's done a good job over the last 10 months and has been able to retain good players and if Tomkins arrives has also been able to recruit well
 

vvvrulz

Coach
Messages
13,625
Great news, not too worried if Tomkins doesn't arrive but it would be a bonus.
Retaining Friend is huge though.
 

spear tackle

Juniors
Messages
1,176
I was thinking with Friend and Tomkins the competition for the backs is going to be pretty awesome for 2014.

Lets hope Tomkins comes however this is good news.

On a side note, I've gotta hand it to Elliott that he's done a good job over the last 10 months and has been able to retain good players and if Tomkins arrives has also been able to recruit well



Ii thought grabbing Tomkins would have been Bells job? Still glad to see Freind being kept on for another year
 

ozenzud

Juniors
Messages
699
Agree. This is good news. You'd have to expect Mara to be on his way then. Mara must be 25 or so now is he?
 

Fast Eddie

First Grade
Messages
8,085
Warriors played this well, got to keep him for the extra year but at a reduced price than on the team option on his contract.
 

Diesel

Referee
Messages
23,790
The difference between Tomkins and Friend is we know Friend can cut it in the NRL. Tomkins will most likely be able to cut it but as of 2013 we do not know but know Friend can
 

Fast Eddie

First Grade
Messages
8,085
The difference between Tomkins and Friend is we know Friend can cut it in the NRL. Tomkins will most likely be able to cut it but as of 2013 we do not know but know Friend can

I'm trying my best not to go on another rant here :lol:
 

Fast Eddie

First Grade
Messages
8,085
That'd be a disaster. There was the rumour yesterday that Wigan might be making him stay one more year there, as long as we get signed for either next season or 2015 I don't really care.
 

Diesel

Referee
Messages
23,790
Might make sence since Friend signed for only one year

Wouldn't mind seeing Locke at 5/8th in pre-season trials with TL at hooker
 
Messages
10,086
Jim Banaghan on live sport said that Tomkins is a done deal and will be announced after Wembley next weekend, warriors paying a 500,000 pound transfer fee to get him
 

Fast Eddie

First Grade
Messages
8,085
Jim Banaghan on live sport said that Tomkins is a done deal and will be announced after Wembley next weekend, warriors paying a 500,000 pound transfer fee to get him


Yeah read a few eeks back that Wigan didn't want to announce anything t after the CC final. The fact that they were chasing Minichello and now Bowen shows its been a done deal for a while. Good to see our management were willing to fork our for a star.
 

Rich102

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
11,764
I see the Warriors have made a play for injured Tigers hooker Masada Iosefa.
Is this an indication Leuluai may be staying in the halves?
 

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