League: Warriors seal deal for Ben Matulino

Reporter·NZ Herald·

5 Feb, 2015 04:00 PM4 mins to read

Re-signed prop Ben Matulino in action against the Gold Coast Titans last weekend at the Auckland Nines. Photo / Brett Phibbs

After fending off offers from the Panthers and Dragons, barnstorming prop signs on for two more years

The Warriors have fended off strong advances from rival clubs and re-signed big prop Ben Matulino on a two-year contract extension that will keep him in Auckland until the end of 2017.

After fielding lucrative offers from both Penrith and St George-Illawarra, the 26-year-old this week put pen to paper on a deal that will see him rack up a decade of service with the Warriors.

"Yeah, two more years to take me out to 10 years with the club, so it's good," Matulino said.

The Wellington-born forward revealed he made a quick trip across to Sydney during the offseason to meet with Panthers officials, and also considered an offer from the Dragons, but upon returning to preseason training noticed a new and improved attitude and atmosphere at the Warriors.

"That was before pre-season and when I started back at training, with Cappy [McFadden] in charge, I just saw a different environment and different culture and those are the reasons I wanted to stay," he said.

"I didn't want to leave the club and then see them go on to win a premiership. I just want to be a part of it and I know that Cappy has got us in a good spot to fire up."

Family ties were also a factor, with Matulino having to consider what was best not only for his career but also his wife and child.

"I've got a little girl and wife now and I've done all of that during my time with the Warriors. My partner was a bit hesitant about moving over and having to meet new people and having her friends here, so that played a part in my decision, but I'm just happy to get it over and done with."

McFadden welcomed the news and said the onus was now on him as coach to enable the 1.93m, 107kg ball-player to reach his full potential.

"It's excellent. He's obviously a very well respected player and a real talent and my job is to get the best out of him because I don't think we have seen that yet," McFadden said.

"He's a one-club Warriors player, this will take him into his 10th season and we hope he can be a one-club player for a long time.

"It's such a critical position for any team, front-row, and we've got some good young kids coming through, [such as] Sam [Lisone]. So it is great to have that person who is the real experienced campaigner and the one who leads them."

McFadden's reputation as a hard task-master and his refusal to accept anything but the best from his players sits well with Matulino.

"The agreement between me and him is just for him to push me to be the best player that I can be. He doesn't let anything slip. He's not going to let me get comfortable at this club which is a good thing," Matulino said.

The coach's direct and no-nonsense approach has helped the quiet-natured Matulino find his voice as one of the senior players in the Warriors' changing room.

"That's the way he connects us together. In the time I've been at the club I've always just stood at the back and been quiet, not saying anything.

"He asks everyone questions and makes you respond to him.

"That's the good thing about him, he gets the best out of you and the main reason I wanted to stay was because of him.

"Last year he had me firing and then I got set back with injury so that was one of the reasons for me to stay."