Matulino, Ben

Ben MATULINO [Player Stats]


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Warriors secure top New Zealand prospects on new contracts
Thu June 5, 2008
by Matthew O'Neill
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Two more of New Zealand rugby league's most sought-after prospects Russell Packer and Ben Matulino have joined the exciting Sonny Fai in committing themselves to the Vodafone Warriors.

Just weeks after securing off-contract second rower Fai (20) on a new two-year deal, the Vodafone Warriors today announced they had re-signed prop Packer (18) and back rower Matulino (19), further underlining the club's success in recruiting and retaining a group of the country's best young players.

Foxton-raised Packer, who has already played four NRL games, has been clinched on a four-year contract to the end of the 2012 season.

Matulino, like 2008 NRL debutant Fai, will be at Mt Smart Stadium until at least the end of the 2010 season. The huge Wellington forward has been outstanding for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in the under-20 National Youth Competition and has already been selected as 18th man for the club's NRL side.

By re-signing Packer, Matulino and Fai, the Vodafone Warriors were able to hold off several rival clubs who were also chasing their signatures.

It means the club now has five of New Zealand's most highly-rated young players secured for at least the next two and half seasons.

Last year Kiwi prop Sam Rapira (21) was signed on a three-year contract extension taking him through to the end of 2012 and in April giant Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei (22) re-signed until the end of the 2011 season. Rapira, now with 47 NRL appearances being him, played in all of the Kiwis' six tests last year while Vatuvei, a 65-game Vodafone Warrior, has already played 11 tests.

"We were thrilled to be able to re-sign Sonny and we're really excited to have Russell and Ben on new contracts," said Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah.

"There was a lot of competition to keep all three players but we think it's a reflection on what we now have in place at the Vodafone Warriors that we've been able to retain all of them.

"With Manu and Sam also contracted for several years, we have the nucleus of a team of New Zealand-made players to take us into the future."

Scurrah said the contract deals for Packer and Matulino as well as Fai were a tribute to the work done by Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Tony Iro and development manager Dean Bell through the Allied Work Force development programme.

"They've done a great job with these players and our coaches believe there are more NYC players not too far away from pushing for promotion to the NRL," said Scurrah.

"That comes back to our aim to turn the Vodafone Warriors into a development club and we're now seeing the benefits of that strategy. It's a long process but it's paying off now and, through the NYC, we're set to reap even more rewards."

For their part, Packer and Matulino couldn't be more excited about staying in Auckland.

"I owe the Vodafone Warriors so much for what they've done for me," said Packer.

"It was a huge move coming from Foxton to chase the dream of becoming an NRL player and it's worked out beyond my expectations. To be playing in the NRL alongside so many great players at the age of 18 has been unreal and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

"The guys have been brilliant and the coaches have helped me so much."

Earlier in the season Packer put together a string of performances that established him as the early leader in the Dally M NYC player of the year. He was gaining an average of around 180 metres a game, once topping 200 metres.

Matulino has also been a standout in the under-20 competition and, like Packer, he is motivated to establish himself as an NRL player.

"For now I'm really enjoying playing in the NYC," he said.

"I just want to keep on improving my game and Tony (Iro) and the coaches at the club are helping me in a big way. Coming up here from Wellington was a big change but it's been brilliant.

"This is a great club to be at and some day hopefully I'll have a shot at the NRL."

Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is confident Packer and Matulino have big futures ahead of them.

"They obviously have great potential along with Sonny. As long as they keep learning and improving, they're going to be vital players for the Vodafone Warriors."

The Packer and Matulino announcements follow three other key signings in the last few days.

Brisbane winger Denan Kemp (21) has signed with the Vodafone Warriors for two seasons, marking his decision with a club record-equalling four-try haul in the Broncos' 30-26 win over Parramatta on Friday night.

And on Saturday night the club confirmed captain Steve Price had a one-year contract for 2009 and fullback Wade McKinnon a two-year extension through to 2011.

RUSSELL PACKER
Born: October 9, 1989
Birthplace: Levin, NZ
Position: Prop
Height: 188cm
Weight: 111kg
Junior Club: Levin Lions (Horowhenua)
NRL Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Canberra, May 4, 2008 (Round 8)
NRL Career: 4 appearances (2008)
NRL Points: 4 (1 try)
Representative: New Zealand Under-18 2007, New Zealand A 2006, Junior Kiwis 2006, New Zealand Under-16 2005
Educated: Manawatu College (Foxton)

BEN MATULINO
Born: January 3, 1989
Birthplace: Wellington, NZ
Position: Second rower
Height: 193cm
Weight: 108kg
Junior Club: Te Aroha Eels (Wellington)
NRL Debut: Yet to make debut
NRL Career: Nil
NRL Points: Nil
Representative: New Zealand Under-18 2007, Junior Kiwis 2006
Educated: St Bernard's College (Wellington)

News Source: www.warriors.co.nz

====================================================================================================== 2008 Toyota National Youth Competition New Zealand Warriors 10 games; 2 tries, 8 points. [View] Round 2 [23 Mar 08] L 22-26 v Eels (H). [BE] [View] Round 3 [31 Mar 08] W 22-14 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE] [View] Round 4 [06 Apr 08] W 30-18 v Knights (H). [SR] [View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] D 26-26 v Bulldogs (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] D 24-24 v Cowboys (A). [SR] [View] Round 7 [27 Apr 08] W 36-28 v Gold Coast (A). [SR] [View] Round 8 [04 May 08] L 24-30 v Raiders (H). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 10 [18 May 08] L 24-46 v Panthers (A). [SR] [View] Round 11 [25 May 08] W 40-10 v Roosters (H). [SR] [View] Round 13 [06 Jun 08] W 31-4 v Rabbitohs (H). [SR] ====================================================================================================== 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership New Zealand Warriors 2 games; [View] Round 14 [14 Jun 08] L 8-24 v Sharks (A). [BE] [View] Round 15 [22 Jun 08] L 14-20 v Sea Eagles (H). [BE] ======================================================================================================

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