Rugby League: Warriors recruit can't wait

By Peter Jessup

Former Junior Kiwi Matt Spence confirmed yesterday that he had signed to play for the Auckland Warriors.

The hard-line forward swears he has learned his lesson about drugs and is looking for a winning future.

Spence will not play for Western Suburbs in their last game, against the Warriors, as he is recovering from a bout of pneumonia that developed from the flu then playing and training in the rain.

"There'll be plenty of emotion. I wouldn't have minded playing," he said of the last clash at Campbelltown.

But realistically he does not believe the Magpies have a shot and admits it will be nice to come to a winning team after getting some terrible hidings this season.

"After the first couple of big losses the crowd dropped right off. It's been getting harder as we come towards the end of the season, keeping the motivation going," he said.

So he is looking forward to meeting his new team-mates and shifting from Sydney's far-west to Auckland.

"Can't wait," he said. "It hasn't been the best of years and I'm hoping for some good news next season."

Spence, aged 24, went to Sydney in 1995 after being picked from his home-town Turangi Dambusters side in the Bay of Plenty competition to play for the Junior Kiwis, from where he was plucked by Parramatta.

He had four seasons with the Eels and went further west last summer.

His 1999 started with a seven-week suspension after he tested positive for the nightclub drug ecstasy that has been favoured by sportspeople because it clears from the system within two days.

He was not even allowed to train with the team and spent the time in exile. But he has no grudges.

"The club did what they had to. It cost me plenty - the fine, lawyers. I'll never do it again," he said.

Not even resentment for the NRL or Canberra players Brandon Pearson and Ben Kennedy who had a nightclub brush with the drug but escaped punishment.

"Good luck to them. I had no choice but to admit it - the test was positive."

And he realises he is fortunate to have a second chance.

"There aren't a lot of jobs going around and I know I'm lucky. My form's been a bit patchy like the rest of the side so I'm pleased to be given the chance and I intend to give it a hard train this off-season, work on running the ball hard."

The Warriors want Spence because at 102kg and 1.85m and with more than 50 NRL games including reserve grade, despite the best part of a season off for a knee reconstruction, he offers experienced back-up without a drop in size.

He has stood out in the statistics in a side who have lost 20 of 23 games this year and is happy at least with his tackling.

"We've been doing plenty of tackling. I've had lots of practice."

So when his manager, Sam Ayoub, approached the club because Spence wanted to go home, coach Mark Graham was keen enough to give him a run for a year on an incentive-based deal with an option for a second.

Spence knows he will have a hard job forcing his way into the front or second rows of a pack who are firing on all cylinders.

"The way they've turned themselves around is incredible. I'd say there's some great wins to come," he said, referring to last week's 42-0 demolition of Newcastle.

Spence does not expect any particular anti-Auckland aggro this weekend despite the Warriors getting the mine and the Magpies the shaft.

"The boys will just be out to impress anyone who will give them a job," Spence said of the Wests players, 17 of whom were yesterday told they were not wanted at the new Western Tigers.

The Warriors travel today, with no more injuries after Matthew Ridge's withdrawal.

They remain in the hunt for another second-rower and a centre, with St George Illawarra Dragon Jamie Ainscough a chief target for the midfield.

Auckland Warriors: Lee Oudenryn, Odell Manuel, Peter Lewis, Nigel Vagana, Francis Meli, John Simon (c), Stacey Jones, Joe Vagana, Robert Mears, Terry Hermansson, Tony Tatupu, Logan Swann, Jason Death; interchange Cliff Beverley, Ali Lauitiiti, Awen Guttenbeil, Jerry Seu Seu.

Western Suburbs Magpies: Brett Hodgson, Adam Donovan, Kevin McGuinness, Justin Brooker, David Buko, Shane Perry, Steve Georgalis (c), Harvey Howard, Ciracio Mescia, Tate Moseley, Lincoln Raudonikis, Scott Coxon; interchange Matthew Fuller, Adam Bristow, Dane Dorahy, Dayle Bonner.