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Ruben WIKI [Player Stats]

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Warriors make Wiki's 300th memorable
Mon June 30, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Vodafone Warriors veteran Ruben Wiki had cause for a double celebration at Leichhardt Oval in Balmain on Sunday.

On a personal level he celebrated the achievement of becoming the first New Zealander and just the 10th player in history to play 300 first-grade matches in a season.

And appropriately it happened in a year when the Australian Rugby League is marking its 100th anniversary.

But, most importantly for Wiki and his team-mates, the occasion was iced by a pulsating 28-26 victory in a sparkling match, a victory that might have been far more clear-cut but for some decisions that caused a fair degree of consternation.

Ultimately the result rested on Wests Tigers captain Brett Hodgson's conversion attempt of Kiwi winger Taniela Tuiaki's try in the final seconds of the match, his third four-pointer of the day. Hodgson needed the conversion to take the contest into golden point extra time but he was just astray to the relief of the Vodafone Warriors and their fans.

The win was richly deserved as the Vodafone Warriors put together a display high on quality on both attack and defence.

The major obstacle for them was a lopsided penalty count awarded by referee Steve Lyons which favoured the home side 7-3. In fact, the Vodafone Warriors received their three penalties in the early stages of the match but then went without another one - including the entire second half - while the Tigers received seven straight.

That resulted in the Tigers having 21 sets in the second half to just 15 for the Vodafone Warriors. The Vodafone Warriors also had to make 168 tackles in the second 40 minute period, 72 more than the Tigers.

But they defended heroically against the odds, especially when they were under heavy attack on their own line. Having repelled multiple attacks by the Tigers, the Vodafone Warriors staged a compelling two-try breakout in the 66th and 69th minutes that enabled them to jump to a 28-16 lead and hang on to win the game, the second in their last three away matches.

The first of the tries was a long-range stunner, the ball shifted wide to the left edge where huge back rower Sonny Fai - who was used in the centres for this match - sped down the touchline, kicking clear of his marker and then feeding Grant Rovelli who was backing up inside. He in turn fed fullback Lance Hohaia alongside him to round off a brilliant try. Three minutes later the man of the day Wiki provided a perfect pass for fellow prop Sam Rapira to surge onto for his first try of the season.

Earlier the Vodafone Warriors had played almost perfectly in the opening 30 minutes.

They started with a line-up that differed significantly from the one named earlier in the week. Rovelli, not used against Manly, was recalled at halfback with Nathan Fien moving out to standoff while Michael Witt, selected at No 6, went to the bench. Fai was brought off the bench to play in the centres on the left edge while Simon Mannering was shifted back to his preferred second rower's spot.

With those changes, the Vodafone Warriors ran at the Tigers with zest, their attack looking a lot sharper. That manifested itself in yet another try for hooker Ian Henderson in the ninth minute before Fai was set free in the 24th minute on a thrilling 35-metre dash to the line for his second career try. Five minutes later Fien scythed through for his first try of the season. With Hohaia converting two of the tries, the Vodafone Warriors had a 16-0 edge, reduced to 16-6 at halftime after Benji Marshall's skills arranged a dazzling try for Tuiaki.

Facing a possession drought in the second half, the Vodafone Warriors yielded tries to Robbie Farah and Chris Lawrence that had the game tied up at 16-16 with 24 minutes to play.

It was then that the Vodafone Warriors' goal-line defence was outstanding before they rebounded to take a critical 12-point lead, which proved to be just enough for their sixth win this season.

Their defence was again sound with just 20 missed tackles in the match compared to 34 for the Tigers. And after struggling to make line breaks against Manly, they came up with seven this time.

Rovelli laid on two of the five tries while Wiki excelled in his landmark game, carrying the ball 13 times for 95 metres. Other big contributors were Jerome Ropati (18 runs, 180 metres), impressive debutant winger Malo Solomona (11 runs, 104 metres), Hohaia (12 runs, 114 metres), Fai (8 runs, 120 metres), Aidan Kirk (10 runs, 93 metres) and Mannering (9 runs, 89 metres).

Captain Micheal Luck was the defensive glue as usual with 49 tackles and only one miss while Mannering (28), Henderson (24), Rovelli (23) and Rapira (23) were not only busy but had no missed tackles marked against them.

The Vodafone Warriors have moved to 14 points and will climb to 16 with the second of their byes next weekend. Their next outing, a celebration at home of Wiki's 300-game feat, is against North Queensland on July 12.

Match details:

At Leichhardt Oval, Balmain
Wests Tigers 26 (Taniela Tuiaki 3, Robbie Farah, Chris Lawrence tries; Brett Hodgson 3 conversions).
Vodafone Warriors 28 (Ian Henderson, Sonny Fai, Nathan Fien, Lance Hohaia, Sam Rapira tries; Lance Hohaia 2 conversions; Michael Witt 2 conversions).
Halftime: 16-6 Vodafone Warriors.
Referee: Steve Lyons.
Crowd: 15,027.

Report Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Wiki set to become first Kiwi to play 300 NRL games
Tue June 24, 2008
by Matthew O'Neill
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Vodafone Warriors prop Ruben Wiki will add another achievement to a long list of feats in his glittering career when he lines up against Wests Tigers at Leichhardt Oval on Sunday.

Already the owner of the most first-grade appearances by a New Zealander, he will break rare ground when he joins nine Australians in the competition's 300-game club.

The feat will sit alongside the world record he has for most tests (55), still the only man to reach the 50-mark on the international stage after retiring from test football in 2006.

Wiki (35) told the Vodafone Warriors in February that this 16th season would be his last in the NRL. He began the season needing 12 more matches to achieve 300 in his career. He will do so with his 75th game for the Vodafone Warriors since 2005 after tallying 225 games for Canberra from 1993-2004.

"It's a great achievement and everyone at the club is thrilled for Ruben," said coach Ivan Cleary.

"It's a tremendous tribute to him that he has lasted 16 seasons in a competition as demanding, especially playing the game with the intensity he does."

Fittingly enough, the feat will be achieved in the Australian Rugby League's 100th anniversary season. Ahead of Wiki on the all-time list are Terry Lamb (349), Brad Fittler (336), Steve Menzies (335), Cliff Lyons (332), Andrew Ettingshausen (328), Geoff Gerard (320), Jason Crocker (318), Paul Langmack (315) and Luke Ricketson (301).

Another milestone will be achieved by winger Malo Solomona (21) when he makes his NRL debut on Sunday, becoming the 143rd first-grade player for the club since its arrival in 1995. He comes into the side for the experienced Manu Vatuvei, who made his return from a long injury lay-off against Manly last Sunday. He lasted 52 minutes but had to leave the field with some pain in his left leg.

"Malo has been playing for the Auckland Vulcans and is part of our NRL squad," said Cleary.

"He has worked hard to earn his chance at this level. We've tried other players on the wing already and now it's time to give Malo a crack at it. He's been waiting for it."

Of the side that lost 14-20 to the Sea Eagles, captain Steve Price and centre Brent Tate are also missing due to State of Origin commitments with Queensland.

That means Sam Rapira, who made his 50th NRL appearance last week, will be Wiki's starting front row partner with Simon Mannering moving into the centres to replace Tate. Coming into the starting line-up in the second row is 19-year-old Ben Matulino in just his third NRL appearance.

Returning to the bench after impressive form for the Vodafone Junior Warriors is back rower Sonny Fai (20), who has played nine NRL matches so far this season.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v WESTS TIGERS
Leichhardt Oval, Balmain
2.00pm, Sunday, June 29

Vodafone Warriors
1 Lance Hohaia
2 Aidan Kirk
3 Jerome Ropati
4 Simon Mannering
5 Malo Solomona
6 Michael Witt
7 Nathan Fien
8 Ruben Wiki (vc)
9 Ian Henderson
10 Sam Rapira
11 Ben Matulino
12 Logan Swann
13 Micheal Luck (c)

Interchange:
14 Patrick Ah Van
15 Evarn Tuimavave
16 Epalahame Lauaki
17 Sonny Fai

Coach: Ivan Cleary

News Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Tue June 3, 2008

Wiki returns for Warriors

Thu April 24, 2008

Wiki and Jones return to Kiwis for Centenary Test

======================================================================================================

2008 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
11 games; 1 tries, 4 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [17 Mar 08] L 18-32 v Storm (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 2 [23 Mar 08] W 30-16 v Eels (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 3 [31 Mar 08] L 6-52 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 4 [06 Apr 08] W 26-20 v Knights (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] W 36-16 v Bulldogs (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] L 20-48 v Cowboys (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 7 [27 Apr 08] L 24-36 v Gold Coast (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 10 [18 May 08] L 22-46 v Panthers (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 13 [06 Jun 08] L 28-35 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 14 [14 Jun 08] L 8-24 v Sharks (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 15 [22 Jun 08] L 14-20 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR] 
======================================================================================================

2007 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
19 games; 1 tries, 4 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [17 Mar 07] W 34-18 v Eels (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 2 [25 Mar 07] W 24-14 v Broncos (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 3 [01 Apr 07] L 12-30 v Storm (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 4 [08 Apr 07] L 10-13 v Sea Eagles (A). [BE] 
[View] Round 5 [15 Apr 07] W 34-14 v Cowboys (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 7 [29 Apr 07] W 18-16 v Rabbitohs (A). [SR] 
[View] Round 8 [05 May 07] L 20-22 v Sharks (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 9 [12 May 07] L 18-24 v Knights (A). [SR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 10 [20 May 07] L 26-30 v Tigers (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 11 [28 May 07] L 6-30 v Eels (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 13 [10 Jun 07] L 2-4 v Storm (H). [PR] 
[View] Round 16 [30 Jun 07] W 22-6 v Gold Coast (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 17 [07 Jul 07] L 12-18 v Cowboys (A). [PR] 
[View] Round 18 [15 Jul 07] W 44-16 v Dragons (H). [SR] 
[View] Round 19 [22 Jul 07] W 28-16 v Tigers (A). [SR] 
[View] Round 20 [28 Jul 07] W 52-10 v Knights (H). [SR] 
[View] Round 21 [05 Aug 07] D 31-31 v Roosters (A). [SR] 
[View] Round 23 [18 Aug 07] L 24-26 v Raiders (A). [SR] 
[View] Round 24 [26 Aug 07] W 36-14 v Sea Eagles (H). [SR] 
======================================================================================================

2006 Tri-Nations Test Series

New Zealand Kiwis 
4 games; [View] Tri-Nations Match 1 [14 Oct 06] L 18-30 v Australia (H). [PR]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 2 [21 Oct 06] L 15-20 v Australia (A). [PR]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 3 [28 Oct 06] W 18-14 v Great Britain (H). [PR]
[View] Tri-Nations Final [25 Nov 06] L 12-16 v Australia (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================

2006 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
22 games; 6 tries, 24 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [12 Mar 06] L 16-22 v Storm (H). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [18 Mar 06] L 14-22 v Eels (A). [PR]
[View] Round 3 [25 Mar 06] W 26-10 v Tigers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 4 [02 Apr 06] W 26-22 v Knights (A). [PR]
[View] Round 5 [09 Apr 06] L 8-22 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Round 6 [15 Apr 06] L 14-18 v Raiders (A). [PR]
[View] Round 7 [22 Apr 06] W 46-14 v Rabbitohs (H). [PR] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 10 [13 May 06] L 16-22 v Dragons (A). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [20 May 06] W 34-12 v Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 12 [27 May 06] L 20-34 v Sharks (A). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 06] L 18-23 v Broncos (H). [PR] 8 Pts; 2t
[View] Round 14 [11 Jun 06] W 22-12 v Roosters (A). [PR]
[View] Round 15 [18 Jun 06] W 30-18 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 16 [25 Jun 06] W 66-0 v Rabbitohs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 17 [01 Jul 06] W 28-22 v Panthers (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 18 [09 Jul 06] L 18-22 v Bulldogs (A). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [15 Jul 06] L 12-20 v Eels (H). [PR]
[View] Round 21 [29 Jul 06] L 6-36 v Panthers (A). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [12 Aug 06] W 26-0 v Cowboys (H). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [19 Aug 06] W 24-20 v Storm (A). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 06] W 42-16 v Roosters (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t
[View] Round 26 [03 Sep 06] L 12-36 v Broncos (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================

2005 Tri-Nations Test Series

New Zealand Kiwis 
5 games; [View] Tri-Nations Match 1 [15 Oct 05] W 38-28 v Australia (A). [PR]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 2 [21 Oct 05] L 26-28 v Australia (H). [PR]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 3 [29 Oct 05] W 42-26 v Great Britain (A). [PR]
[View] Tri-Nations Match 5 [12 Nov 05] L 12-38 v Great Britain (A). [PR]
[View] Tri-Nations Final [26 Nov 05] W 24-0 v Australia. [PR]
======================================================================================================

2005 NRL Telstra Premiership

New Zealand Warriors 
19 games; 4 tries, 16 points. 
		 [View] Round 1 [13 Mar 05] L 20-26 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 05] W 24-12 v Broncos (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t (29th)
  Judiciary: High Tackle, Careless Grade 3 Guilty, 4 matches
[View] Round 8 [01 May 05] L 14-16 v Panthers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 9 [07 May 05] L 24-28 v Sharks (A). [PR]
[View] Round 10 [15 May 05] L 6-10 v Roosters (H). [PR]
[View] Round 11 [21 May 05] W 34-16 v Souths (A). [PR]
[View] Round 12 [29 May 05] W 21-4 v Tigers (H). [PR]
[View] Round 13 [04 Jun 05] L 18-32 v Dragons (A). [PR]
[View] Round 14 [12 Jun 05] W 24-16 v Storm (H). [PR]
[View] Round 16 [26 Jun 05] W 30-18 v Broncos (H). [PR]
[View] Round 17 [02 Jul 05] L 16-24 v Cowboys (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t (43rd)
[View] Round 18 [10 Jul 05] L 24-26 v Bulldogs (H). [PR]
[View] Round 19 [16 Jul 05] W 24-22 v Roosters (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t (6th)
[View] Round 20 [23 Jul 05] W 24-16 v Raiders (H). [SR]
[View] Round 21 [30 Jul 05] L 34-42 v Panthers (A). [BE]
[View] Round 22 [06 Aug 05] L 20-38 v Eels (H). [PR]
[View] Round 23 [13 Aug 05] L 10-22 v Storm (A). [PR]
[View] Round 24 [20 Aug 05] L 4-16 v Knights (H). [PR]
[View] Round 25 [27 Aug 05] W 22-20 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t (19th)
======================================================================================================

2005 International Test Matches

New Zealand Kiwis 
1 games; [View] Bundaberg Rum Test [22 Apr 05] L 16-32 v Australia (A). [PR]
======================================================================================================

2004 NRL Telstra Premiership

Canberra Raiders 
2 games; [View] Round 1 [14 Mar 04] W 21-12 v Dragons (A). [SR]
[View] Round 2 [19 Mar 04] L 18-34 v Panthers (H). [SR]
======================================================================================================

Wiki, Ruben

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