Written in black ink on a cloth wrapped around Ruben Wiki's wrist are the words 'carpe diem'.
Seize the day.
They appear alongside other personal reminders - 'doubles', 'guile', 'enjoy' and 'line speed' - but there could hardly be a more appropriate saying than the Latin phrase for
a player whose NRL career will be over when the Warriors' season ends.
That was supposed to be last weekend when the 35-year-old lined up against the Storm. It could have finished on Friday night against the Roosters. It could even have finished midway through the season when he was dropped to the Auckland Vulcans and speculation mounted he would retire then.
Now the Ruben Wiki roadshow heads to Sydney on Saturday in another do-or-die match, this time against the Sea Eagles.
"I should charge for tickets, eh?" he says with that infectious grin. "I'm really enjoying the ride.
"I have had everything this year. There have been ups and downs, playing for the Vulcans, but I have taken it in my stride and tried to get better so I can do better for the team. Two more games."
Wiki says that with total conviction. He believes the Warriors will beat Manly and he will make his second grand final, a fitting finale for an extraordinary career that spans 311 games.
His enthusiasm is infectious and his team-mates feed off the way he puts his body on the line. His run into Iosia Soliola left little doubt as to who came off second best.
"It's inspirational," skipper Steve Price said of his front-row partner.
"I feel like I'm 30 again," Wiki said. "I'm pretty good. I'm looking after myself and doing my island ritual [of drinking kava].
"I'm enjoying the company of the boys. We're really tight, because some of us won't be together next year."
Where Wiki will be next year is not yet clear. He's talked about the UK Super League and been linked with Brian McClennan's Leeds. But he could also call time on his career altogether.
That's why he's seizing the day.
