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Rugby league hero and all-round good-guy Ruben Wiki put on a smiling face for the media scrum yesterday and declared himself happy to be given the chance to resurrect his form with the Warriors feeder team, keen to play with the young boys in the Auckland Vulcans.
"I haven't been going the best, the form's been a bit up and down," the veteran prop said at Warriors training yesterday. Tonight, he'll be running around Cornwall Park along with another regular top-grader, Wairangi Koopu, and newcomer Ryan Shortland.
"If that's what I have to do, that's what I have to do," Wiki said. "I just want to play footy, that's what I love. It'll be good to run around with the young guys."
The legendary prop dismissed talk of a rift between himself and coach Ivan Cleary. He also dismissed suggestions that he was being driven out to lighten the club's salary burden, with an exit to an English club in mind. He said he felt no animosity as a result of the demotion. "I just want to get back [to first grade]."
Wiki confirmed that a long-term rib cartilage injury had been bothering him. "I'll just soldier on." But there is no way he wants out. "I'll fulfil my obligations right to the end."
The chance to recover from niggling injuries was suggested by the club as the reason for Wiki's shift to the Vulcans and coach Cleary yesterday said they followed that course rather than resting their 35-year-old vice-captain because he needed playing time. "He's played 25 or 30 minutes over the last month. We just thought it was best he goes out and plays some minutes." The side needed Wiki refreshed and injury-free, said Cleary.
Skipper Steve Price said he felt no pain or discomfort from the hamstring that kept him out of eight games. "It was brilliant. I didn't think about it once in the game. You can do all the physical work you want but the biggest thing is mental. I was sore afterwards but not there, everywhere else," Price said.
Saturday's opponents Newcastle have had a major boost this week with news that the New South Wales government will spend A$20 million to improve their stadium and facilities in the next three years.
Bulldogs wing Cameron Phelps has been released to go to Wigan. The club signed Brisbane prop Ben Hannant for three seasons and is talking to Broncos hooker Michael Ennis. The Cowboys have elevated former skipper Paul Bowman from under-20s coach to assistant to Ian Millward.
