NRL: Landmark for returning Warrior

Clinton Toopi. Photo / Getty Images

Former Kiwis rugby league international Clinton Toopi is set for a landmark outing when he faces his former club in Auckland on Friday night.

The 31-year-old Gold Coast Titans centre's appearance against the New Zealand Warriors represents his 150th National Rugby League match.

It is a significant milestone for Toopi, who feared his professional rugby league career might have been over when he left the British Super League in 2008.

He was subsequently given a lifeline by the Titans last season and has not looked back.

He has now played 20 times for the Titans and although he is unsure whether this year will be his last season at the top Toopi is determined to make the most of every minute.

"So many players only get a limited opportunity and I'm just thankful," said Toopi, who wore the Warriors jersey on 129 occasions from 1999 to 2006.

"Playing back home playing against the Warriors, it's kind of fitting in a way."

Toopi said he would probably only fully appreciate the milestone once he retired.

"We've had a few boys that have had milestones this year and a lot of players look at it and think it's not a big deal," he told the Titans website.

"But when you finish, it is something that means something. Playing in the toughest game in the world and accomplishing something like that is definitely special.

"I just wish I had the mindset that I do now when I first started out."

Toopi, who played 22 tests for New Zealand from 2001-07, said it was nice feeling to reach the milestone in front of a contingent of family and friends ranging from his parents to childhood school mates.

"They've already started racking up tickets. I think it'll be a bit of a battle with (fellow New Zealand born) Bodene Thompson so we'll see what happens with the tickets."

Coach John Cartwright said he was happy for Toopi to reach the milestone on his former home turf and hoped that he would step up a notch against his old club.

"I'm glad to be able to do that for him, especially over in New Zealand. He'll have a lot of family over there and it's the club where it all started for him," Cartwright said.

"You tend to get the guys that come out of the Warriors, they go back there and they go up a notch so we're hoping Toops does that this week."