onya Witty

[ozbash]

Witty Fan will be wearing the black armband..;-)

Former New Zealand Warriors' playmaker Michael Witt has announced his retirement as injuries and the mid-season arrival of Benji Marshall at St George Illawarra combined to fast-track consideration of life after the NRL.
The 30-year-old was signed to a one-season deal as a replacement for former Warriors team-mate Nathan Fien when the Dragons halfback retired at the end of last year.
Witt, who played 43 games and scored 271 points for the Warriors between 2007-09, is currently recovering from a knee reconstruction and had no regrets that his top flight footballing career is over.
"It was decision that I had been weighing up in the back of my mind earlier on this season and I have no regrets after 12 great seasons playing first grade," said Witt, who entered Warriors' folklore when his late try knocked Melbourne out of the 2008 finals series.
"To play in the NRL has always been a dream of mine and I've been privileged enough to have played more games (179) than I could have ever imagined."
The Queenslander made his first grade debut for Parramatta in 2003 and then joined Manly before crossing the Tasman to Auckland.
He switched codes to rugby in 2009 and represented Otago as a five-eighth before returning to the 13-man code the following year with now defunct English Super League team the Crusaders.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/10464857/Ex-Warrior-Michael-Witt-announces-retirement

 

[Scott]

That conversion he kicked from the sideline at Cronulla (2007 i think) would have to be one of the best of all time.

 

[Meth]

Pretty good goal kicker. Scored that try v Melbourne. Other than that...

 

[ozbash]

Scored that try v Melbourne

that was his career, he played by the seat of his pants..
If Cameron smith had kicked that ball out of his hands, Witty would have been lynched back here.

He actually went pretty well for Otago in the ITM Cup..

 

[Scorpio30]

We finished 4th in 2007 with the much maligned Witt and Rovelli ... unreal.

 

[Blair]

that was his career, he played by the seat of his pants..
If Cameron smith had kicked that ball out of his hands, Witty would have been lynched back here.

He actually went pretty well for Otago in the ITM Cup..

I thought he was always in control of that situation with Smith.

We could have done without that calendar though.

 

[WithTheDawn]

Will always remember THAT try in 2008. Pretty solid player for us, and a handy goal kicker. Shame he has ended up retiring fairly young at 30, a few injuries and a bit of bad luck for him.

 

[Fast Eddie]

Pretty good goal kicker

a handy goal kicker

Some understatements there. He kicked like 90 something percent in a season.

 

[Penrose Warrior]

Absolutely loved the bloke.

Still think he was flicked too early, he was more than just a ridiculously good dead-eye goal kicker.

On ya Witty. Two Warriors champions, in him and Tatey, gone in a week.

 

[Blair]

We finished 4th in 2007 with the much maligned Witt and Rovelli ... unreal.

With an away win over Penrith to secure the home semi. The Panthers needed to win to avoid the spoon.

We lost Manu and Ropati with season-ending injuries in that game though, and they were both in great form.

 

[shiznit]

I just remember my heart stopping when he delayed putting that ball down... :lol:

 

[Philip_Smith007]

We didn't knock out Melbourne with that try, we became first team finishing 8th to beat 1st.
Mahe Fonua paid tribute tonight!

 

[RHYTHM AND STEALTH]

Witty did the job for us, that's all we asked and he delivered

 

[Manu Vatuvei]

With an away win over Penrith to secure the home semi. The Panthers needed to win to avoid the spoon.

We lost Manu and Ropati with season-ending injuries in that game though, and they were both in great form.

Yeah, that's often overlooked. We definitely didn't have a premiership quality team that year but we definitely beat the Eels at Mt Smart with Manu and Jerome fit. We were very underpowered in that game and still should've won.

 

[Scott]

If Logan Swann passes the ball we win that game!!!

 

[Blair]

If Logan Swann passes the ball we win that game!!!

I hate to say it but Witt's first conversion attempt was extremely gettable.

Can't knock 'em all over I guess!

(We lost 12-10).

 

[ozbash]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Odl00OdU5Y

 

[Blair]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Odl00OdU5Y

Witt and Tate deserved their own thread, thanks Oz.

Notice the underrated work done by Aiden Kirk during that epic try.

Also, why didn't Witt just dive over the line? You'd think one would do that.

True Phil, Melbourne weren't knocked out by us, but had to go back into the qualifying mix to get to the GF. From memory they had to go up to Brisbane and beat the Broncos, which they did.

Cam Smith was either injured or suspended and missed the GF, which they lost 40-0 to a white hot Manly, smarting after being well beaten by the Storm in the prior season's GF.

Who else scored tries for us that day?

 

[Blair]

Another bloody double post.

On the beer and trying to get used to a tablet.

 

[vvvrulz]

Oh no we didn't bring up that Eels match again did we!! (bloody Logan Swann..)

But I was happy with Witt. Not the greatest #6 in the world, but did a solid job for two seasons and was *the* goal kicker of the comp at the time. He, McKinnon and Rovelli had a combination scoring bucket loads of tries for a while.

Will always remember 'that' try obviously, along with the time we lost to the Cows in the 07 finals where he blasted the touchies for missing a huge forward pass costing us a crucial try before half time. Will also remember him slotting that field goal to take us into extra time during that epic 31-31 against the Roosters

Had the worst game of his Warriors career in that 2008 Manly playoff, and then faded away real fast. I reckon he did something to piss of the management., but who knows.

Good luck to him.