League: Warriors stalwarts say farewell

Awen Guttenbeil has been a fixture for the Warriors for a decade. Picture / Brett Phibbs

Veteran forward Awen Guttenbeil will leave the Warriors at the end of this season to finish his playing career with English Super League club Castleford.

The Warriors also announced yesterday that Clinton Toopi had been granted a release to play for Leeds.

Guttenbeil, 30, said he was pleased to have his future secured after signing a two-year contract with the Tigers.

"The time just feels right for me to go to England with this being my testimonial season," the second-rower said yesterday.

"I've got everything to thank the Vodafone Warriors for.

"This club has helped to make me who I am. I've grown up here and I've been through all sorts of good times and some not so good with the club.

"It'll be sad when it's all over but I'll leave happy as well because I'm so thankful for the opportunity I've had here."

Guttenbeil, who made his first-grade debut against North Sydney in 1996, made his 164th first-grade appearance against Parramatta on Saturday night. No other forward has played more games for the club.

Guttenbeil said he appreciated the club's co-operation in allowing him to explore options before reaching his decision to leave.

Chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the Warriors were indebted to Guttenbeil.

"The contribution he has made to the club has been enormous. He represents everything we want players from this club to aspire to."

Scurrah said the club was keen to have Guttenbeil involved when he finished his playing days.

Castleford has a potent Kiwi connection. The club has been home to a number of New Zealanders including Kiwis Tawera Nikau, Tony Kemp, Richie Blackmore and Frano Botica.

Toopi's move to Leeds has been telegraphed since he dropped out of first grade.

The 19-test veteran will not look back fondly on his eighth season at the Warriors after he was squeezed out of the midfield by rookie Simon Mannering and the club's first-choice goalkicker, Tony Martin.

At the peak of his powers Toopi was capable of the most audacious offloads and try-scoring feats - his hat-trick inside 10 minutes for the Kiwis against the Kangaroos at North Harbour Stadium in 2003 will be an abiding memory of his time here.

However, this season he has been mainly condemned to the Bartercard Cup after dropping out of head coach Ivan Cleary's plans following May's Anzac test in Brisbane.

Toopi was in the starting XIII for the first nine rounds of this year's NRL series but since returning from Brisbane he has made just two more appearances for the Warriors, both off the bench.

Toopi's 129th and last appearance for the club was against St George Illawarra in Wollongong on May 13.

He has scored just one try this season, which took his club tally to 57.

Toopi had requested a release from the Warriors when it became clear he was surplus to first-grade requirements and was granted his wish a day before the Super League's registration deadline expired.

Scurrah said the decision was made to meet Toopi's demand when it became clear that another centre/wing, Todd Byrne, would return from injury after this weekend's bye.

Toopi was philosophical about ending his association with the club.

"Players are ahead of me here now and I think I need to be playing football at the highest level possible.

"I want to be in the Kiwis team for this year's Tri-Nations and my best chance of achieving that at this stage is by playing for Leeds.

"I've had a fantastic time with the Warriors, including the experience of playing in our first grand final in 2002."

Toopi, who has signed a three-year deal with the Rhinos, is expected to leave for England this week where he will link up with another Warriors favourite Ali Lauiti'iti.

- Additional reporting by NZPA