Manu Vatuvei is equal top try scorer in the NRL. Photo / Brett Phibbs
The Warriors have signed giant winger Manu Vatuvei to the end of the 2011 season.
Vatuvei, 22, had a contract until 2009 but the NRL club yesterday clinched a deal that will stretch the Kiwi international's first-grade career with the Warriors to at least eight seasons.
"We were
determined to keep Manu at the Warriors," club chief executive Wayne Scurrah said.
"We value him extremely highly. He's clearly one of the most exciting players in the game today and all of our players have the greatest admiration for what he brings to the team."
Vatuvei, who has played 11 tests for the Kiwis and 63 first-grade matches for his club, has been one of the standout performers in the first five weeks of the NRL.
With doubles against Melbourne, Parramatta and the Bulldogs, he is equal top try scorer with six so far, boosting his career tally to 35, the ninth best in Warriors' history.
He also tops the NRL's statistics for line breaks (9) and his tally of 35 tackle breaks is bettered only by Melbourne's Israel Folau.
"I'm not interested in playing anywhere else," Vatuvei said.
"I love it here with the boys at the Warriors. Everyone at the club has done heaps for me and I want to do my best to pay them back."
Coach Ivan Cleary was thrilled Vatuvei had secured a long-term future at the Warriors. "Manu's a really important player for our side. He's a huge threat to any opposition at either end of the field and he's just getting better and better."
Vatuvei made his first-grade debut against South Sydney in May 2004, three months after he turned 18. The following year he was played a key role in the Kiwis' historic Tri-Nations success, scoring two tries in the 24-0 grand final win against Australia.
NZPA
