KEY POINTS:
Another week, another National Rugby League farewell, and Ruben Wiki doesn't want it to stop.
The New Zealand Warriors' shock defeat of defending premiers Melbourne last Sunday has not only kept them alive in the playoffs, but also handed them an unexpected return to Mt Smart Stadium tomorrow night.
So, two weeks after he and the home fans said their mutual goodbyes in Auckland, Wiki will be back for his 311th first-grade appearance in a sudden-death semifinal with the Sydney Roosters.
The match will be the Warriors' last at the ground this year whatever happens against the Roosters.
The winners will go on to face Manly in Sydney for a place in the grand final.
Wiki, 35, isn't ready to call time on a 16-year NRL career and wants to be on a plane back across the Tasman next week.
"I'm not done yet," he said.
"I still want to play some footy. I've got a game on Friday night and I just want to put my best foot forward. If we have 17 blokes doing that, we'll have some fun."
Wiki's first farewell, along with that for long-time club servants Logan Swann and Wairangi Koopu, came when the Warriors defeated Penrith 42-20 at home in the penultimate round of the regular season.
The prop got another more impromptu sendoff when the Warriors went to Parramatta the following weekend and secured a playoff berth with a 28-6 victory.
On that occasion, a number of Canberra fans made the trip to Sydney's western suburbs to wish one of their former favourites all the best for the future.
Wiki spent the first 12 years of his first-grade career in the Australian capital, playing 225 matches and winning a premiership with Canberra.
His long stint with the Raiders also gave him plenty of playoff experience, the club missing out on the finals only twice during his time there.
He was also part of the Warriors' return to September football 12 months ago for the first time in four years.
For Wiki, who looks headed for the English Super League next year, the present finals series has added significance, and he hasn't ruled out a fairytale ending.
"This one's pretty special because it's the last year for me," he said.
"Anything's possible and everyone's on the same wave length. Everyone's just enjoying each other's company and then going into battle on the field."
Despite the memorable victory over the Storm, the former Kiwis skipper with a world record 55 caps said the Warriors had to lift their game to get past the Roosters.
Areas they needed to tidy up included ball security and error rate.
"There are a lot of things we need to fix up," he said.
"But that's a good sign. We got the win but we still have things to improve on."
Wiki didn't believe the short five-day turnaround would be a problem, saying the Warriors began their recovery while still in Melbourne.
He was expecting another rugged challenge from the Roosters, who were engaged in a brutal battle when going down 24-16 to Brisbane last Friday night.
"They're going to be pretty pumped up and they'll be throwing a lot at us," he said.
"They're a very physical team and we will just have to ride the wave."
- NZPA
