Wiki confirms NRL retirement
Veteran eyes English Super League
Stuff.co.nz | Saturday, 09 February 2008
New Zealand Warriors vice-captain Ruben Wiki has confirmed the 2008 season will be his last in the National Rugby League competition.
Wiki retired from test football in 2006 after a world record 55 internationals the only player in the game's history to reach the 50-test mark and he said it was time now to make the same plans at NRL level as he eyed his fourth season with the Warriors.
"It was emotional making the decision but I want to leave the NRL on a good note," he said.
"I've loved playing in this competition and it's been an honour being with the Vodafone Warriors and also with Canberra but this is the right time to move on from the NRL.
"I wanted to have it sorted out before the season started so I could get on with giving everything I can to the cause for the team here at the Warriors. As well as that, the fans have always been great to me here and I'll be dedicating the season to them what a ride it will be!
"I've had the first proper off-season of my career and I've loved every minute of it, being able to train with the boys throughout the summer. I feel like I'm in the best condition I've been in."
While Wiki said he was set to leave the NRL, he told the Warriors he also wanted to play in the English Super League.
"That was a big part of the decision," he said.
"I've toured England lots of times and plenty of my Kiwi team-mates have joined clubs there. I have always had an interest in playing there at some stage.
"In the past I've had offers from clubs in England but I've always resisted. Now it's the right time. My manager Jim Banaghan is going to the United Kingdom next week to talk to three Super League clubs that have expressed interest."
He added his decision was very much a family one. Wiki's wife Santa said she was just as keen to see him make the switch to the English Super League.
"It's important to us that Ruben makes the right decision for both himself and us as a family," said Santa.
"It was a big move at the time leaving Canberra to come back home but it's certainly been worth it on all levels. We've been back among family and Ruben has loved his time with the Warriors.
"But he has always had a desire to play in England as well and now is the right time to do it."
While he was moving on from the NRL, Wiki said he was keen to have a role with the Warriors in the future.
"I've been studying to get my qualifications as a trainer and would like to get into that side of things when I finish playing. I want to come back to this club," he said.
Wiki, who has consistently been rated by his peers as one of the hardest players in the game throughout his career, needs just 12 more appearances to become only the 10th player in history to achieve the milestone of 300 games in the premiership.
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said Wiki's influence in the side and around the club would be impossible to replace.
"Ruben has brought so much to this club as a player and as a person. You can't put a value on it but his contribution has been huge," he said.
"It's been a privilege for everyone who has been involved with him but it's not all over yet. He has trained brilliantly throughout the off-season, he's in great condition and he has set himself for a big year. We're expecting a lot from him and he expects a lot from himself. He always sets high standards."
Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah echoed Cleary's sentiments.
"People like Ruben Wiki are rare. We've been so lucky to have him because he has contributed so much to the success of the Vodafone Warriors in all ways," he said.
"It'll be sad when the end comes but there's a full season to go before that and we'll certainly be looking at opportunities to celebrate Ruben's career along the way.
"And once Ruben stops playing, we would love to have him involved in the club in a new role."
In his debut season with the Warriors in 2005, Wiki was named the club's player of the year. He received the ONZM (Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit) for services to rugby league in last year's Queen's Birthday Honours and he was also awarded the Ken Stephen Medal last year as the NRL player who made the most outstanding contribution to the community through rugby league. He also captained the All Golds in their commemorative match against the Northern Union last year, an event that marked the 100th anniversary of the birth of international rugby league.
