Ruben Wiki: Raiding my past I found many great memories

When I lined up in the tunnel to face the Raiders last night, a weird sensation hit me.

Not only was it the first time I had played against an old club but it was also against a club I had spent more than 10 years with and guys I had grown up with.

I had to snap out of it pretty quickly because I had a job to do, I'm a Warrior now, but I certainly hope I don't have to one day play against the Warriors again.

In the last couple of games leading up to the match, a lot of memories ran through my mind about where I had come from since I joined the Raiders in 1993 as a, excuse the pun, green 19-year-old.

It has certainly been an incredible journey.

Back then I joined a club filled with superstars - Mal Meninga, Laurie Daley, Ricky Stuart and Bradley Clyde - that was coached by a superstar in Tim Sheens.

I tried to be myself, which meant I was pretty quiet, but if I did have a question I was never afraid to ask them.

It was the perfect place for me to develop and learn from some of the best in the business. It also helped that I was so keen to learn and I really hope I can pass on some of that knowledge and experience at the Warriors.

The club has changed a lot since those days and they're starting from scratch with a group of young and talented guys who go at 100 miles an hour.

They're coached by one of the best in the business in Matt Elliott, who I owe a lot to, and it was great to catch up with him after last night's game.

Matt was like a father figure for me and taught me a lot in the three years I spent under him. The club had changed by then, the stars had left, which meant I had a new role and had to take on more responsibility.

This season they started off with a hiss and a roar and won their first four games to sit proudly on top of the table. They had a form slump, as all teams do, but are now in and around the top eight like they always seem to be.

We're still pretty optimistic we will make the eight, despite the fact that every game until the end of the season has so much riding on it.

Last weekend's win over the Roosters was the highlight of my time so far at the Warriors - the way we came back from being 22-8 behind and refused to give up said a lot about this team.

I was also really thrilled for Richard Villasanti, who I roomed with over in Sydney. Villa's grandfather passed away a couple of days before the game and it was clearly an emotional time for him. I told him that I had his back for the game and he put in a great performance that would have had his grandfather beaming with pride.

It's things like that, seeing the emotions Villa was going through, that get me pumped up for games and I know a lot of the other guys felt the same way.

Last night I didn't need much motivation - it was standing right in front of me.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY