KEY POINTS:
The Warriors' season may be all over after tonight but one thing is sure, Ruben Wiki will never run out onto Mt Smart in a top-level rugby league game again.
It's unlikely Logan Swann or Wairangi Koopu will either.
Wiki deserves legend status for an NRL trailblazing effort that others will find hard to emulate and for leading his country to brilliant success, like the 24-0 rout of Australia to win the 2006 Tri-Nations.
Perhaps, though, it was harder to lead when it was virtually impossible for the Kiwis to win because they simply couldn't put their best team on the park due to injuries and suspension. It's unlikely anyone will ever beat his world record of 55 tests.
Wiki has played 85 games for the Warriors since he was signed in 2004, 310 NRL matches all-up. He never shirks on the field and opponents still fear him. A Storm forward last week commented that Wiki had played with the enthusiasm of an 18-year-old. But it was his teammate Manu Vatuvei's comments at the Warriors' awards dinner midweek that highlighted to everyone present the extra, and perhaps more important, value the club has had from the super prop.
After receiving the Clubman of the Year award, Vatuvei told the audience Wiki had been his mentor and the 35-year-old and his wife Santa had treated him like family. Remember there have been hard times for the big try-scorer. He was widely criticised for dropping attacking kicks and suffered a frustrating stress-fracture injury.
Vatuvei has scored 45 tries in 73 matches for the Warriors. Better, he's scored 15 from 15 games this season. Better still, he's nabbed tries or made line breaks to put others clear in the games that count, including his pass to Michael Witt that stole the match against the Storm last weekend.
Vatuvei's confidence has clearly been boosted by his teacher's calm and methodical approach. Wiki displayed his complete professionalism when he was dropped to the Auckland Vulcans to rejuvenate his form, not only not spitting the dummy, but declaring his enthusiasm for running around with the new boys, those who might replace him. They'll buy another prop to cart the ball up but the 85 games Wiki has played leave a greater legacy than metres gained. Wiki cannot be replaced.
Director of football John Hart also paid tribute to Logan Swann, 35, who had rejoined the club at a difficult time when leadership was needed and had always returned a tough and committed effort on the field as well as helping the young development players. Swann leaves after 193 games, 23 so far this season.
Swann is the last of the foundation players from 1995. Both he and Wiki say they are keeping options open regarding another year in the Northern Hemisphere but realistically neither needs the money - both are settled here, Wiki's children are at school and Swann is about to marry.
Wairangi Koopu was also feted for his professional approach and the example he set to others. He started as an 18-year-old and 10 years later has 159 games logged. Koopu has family connections in Auckland rugby and they are encouraging him to try the 15-man game, he told the Herald. His preference is to get a place in European rugby but he has no "in". Pacific Island players have a passport of convenience that allows them to qualify under European Union rules aimed at helping foster employment from developing nations with which the bloc trades.
That's how Sonny Bill Williams gained a place with the super-rich Toulon club, making a special trip to Samoa and meeting the Prime Minister, who arranged a passport that then assisted his walk-out on the Bulldogs. As an indication of the deep pockets there, Toulon also has Tana Umaga, George Gregan, Andrew Mehrtens, Anton Oliver, Jerry Collins and Joe van Niekerk. Mark Gasnier caught the plane to Paris to join his new club Stade de Francais while his former Dragons teammates planned their Mad Monday celebrations. And every week there is rumour about the next NRL star to go - Benji Marshall supposedly, then Greg Inglis until he re-signed with the Storm last week. The latest rumours have Roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello joining Gasnier.
There are 25 players flying north this year, from a total NRL roster of around 400. It's a number that has been steadily growing and one that will be boosted by the introduction of two new Super League sides in 2009.
The departing players will be saluted at the Grand Final at the Sydney Olympic Stadium on Sunday October 5.
