Issac Luke of the Warriors throws the ball away after dropping it during the round 25 NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Manly Sea Eagles. Photo / Getty Images.
Veteran hooker Issac Luke is staying at the New Zealand Warriors.
As reported by the Herald, the 31-year-old has signed new one-year deal with the club.
It's understood Luke has accepted a heavily reduced offer to remain in Auckland after talks to join Newcastle broke down following news he requires shoulder surgery which could keep him sidelined until March next year.
"It's good to have the contract all sorted out," said Luke.
"We always wanted to stay in New Zealand, my wife and the kids. I'm really happy here at the club and I'm pleased I have another season with the boys."
The new contract comes after lengthy negotiations between the two parties with the Warriors first tabling their offer for Luke to consider back in July.
Luke was hoping for a longer two or three year deal but will now hope to maintain his strong form next season to inspire either the Warriors or another rival club to sign him for 2020 and beyond.
Warriors coach Stephen Kearney is pleased the long-running saga has come to a positive end for both player and club.
"We wanted Issac to stay. It was just a matter of sorting out the details," said Kearney.
"Now we look forward to him making a big contribution to the side next season."
Luke enjoyed a standout season in helping the Warriors to their first finals appearance in seven years before their campaign ended in the qualifying final loss to Penrith in week one of the playoffs.
His dynamic running and creativity out of dummy-half saw him rediscover his best form after his play suffered during his first two years at the Warriors (2016-17) as he battled weight and fitness issues.
His resurgence was rewarded when he reclaimed his Kiwis jersey for the June test against England in Denver before he finished the season among the nominees for the Dally M Hooker of the Year award.
The Warriors will be expecting more of the same from him next year as the club's first-choice hooker while looking to further blood young No 9 Nathaniel Roach who missed the entire season recovering from back surgery.
Luke's pending signing comes after the Warriors last week announced versatile forward Jazz Tevaga had re-signed for next season with an option for 2020, while the club has further depth in the position through back-up hookers Karl Lawton and Sam Cook.
Tevaga last week celebrated winning the Dally M Interchange Player of the Year after an impressive campaign that saw him come off the bench to play loose-forward while he also filled in at dummy-half in Luke's absence.
However, the extent of Luke's shoulder injury is still to be confirmed after he carried the problem throughout the season while also managing an Achilles strain.
Luke has a history of shoulder issues and missed the round 10 loss to the Sydney Roosters after suffering a dislocation in the previous week's win over Wests Tigers. The injury has ruled him out of next week's transtasman clash against the Kangaroos in Auckland and the Kiwis' end of year tour of the UK.
Warriors CEO Cameron George last week addressed the matter saying the club are willing to work with Luke to get the injury assessed, while his recovery could see him miss the start of next season.
"We all understand he's had a couple of injuries this year where he dislocated his shoulder on a few occasions," George told Radio Sport.
"At the end of the day that's something that the player needs to weigh up whether they go in and get it tidied up. The extent of that operation, I'm not a specialist in any way shape or form around MRI scans but his specialist will advise what that is in due course.
"If we need to work with Issac to get that done in order for him to play his best for the club next year, if he is here, we'll work with him for that."
Meanwhile, the Warriors on Monday confirmed former Kiwis World Cup winning captain Nathan Cayless has signed a two-year deal to coach the club's Intrust Super Premiership side.
The Warriors have also announced they will play a home game at Wellington's Westpac Stadium in each of the next two seasons. The date of next year's game will be confirmed when the 2019 premiership draw is released in November.
On the surface, the Warriors draw for the 2025 season is quite kind