Ruben Wiki
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| Ruben Wiki | ||||||
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| Personal information | ||||||
| Full name | Ruben James Wiki | |||||
| Nickname | Jake The Muss | |||||
| Born | 21 January 1973 | |||||
| Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||
| Playing information | ||||||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | |||||
| Weight | 104 kg (16 st 5 lb) | |||||
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) | |||||
| Weight | 104 kg (16 st 5 lb) | |||||
| Position | Centre, Prop | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 1993–2004 | Canberra Raiders | 225 | 60 | 0 | 0 | 240 |
| 2005–2008 | New Zealand Warriors | 90 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 48 |
| Total | 315 | 72 | 0 | 0 | 288 | |
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 1994–2006 | New Zealand | 55 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| Source: Yesterday's Hero, RLP | ||||||
Ruben Wiki, ONZM (born 21 January 1973 in South Auckland, New Zealand) is a former professional rugby league footballer for the New Zealand Warriors in the Australasian National Rugby League (NRL) competition. Wiki, of Samoan and Maori heritage, played 55 test matches for New Zealand between 1994 and 2006, the most test matches played by any rugby league footballer in the world (as at April 2008).[1] He captained the New Zealand national rugby league team in 18 of those tests.[1]
Become only the tenth player and first New Zealander to play 300 first grade games in the NRL when he started at prop in the Warriors 28-26 victory against the Wests Tigers on the 29 June 2008.
He previously played with the Canberra Raiders for over 10 years alongside such greats as Mal Meninga, Bradley Clyde and Ricky Stuart. At 35 years of age in 2008, he is currently the oldest player in the NRL.[1]
He is set to snub the chance to join a European Super League side for the 2009 season, and will enter into retirement.[2] He will play his final game for the All Golds as part of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup.[3]
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[edit] Honours
In 2002 and 2003 Wiki was named the Canberra Raiders' player of the year. In 2006, he was named in a Kiwi All Time XIII at a gala awards dinner celebrating New Zealand's centenary of rugby league alongside his good friend Stacey Jones. Wiki and Jones are the only recent players to be named in the side with the majority of the players being from the "immortal" 1950-60s side and the destructive 1980s team.
Wiki was made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) in 2007 for his services to rugby league.[4]
[edit] Kava
Wiki drinks a bowl of the Pacific island drink kava after each match, which he credits for his longevity in the game.
[edit] From inspirational player to legendary captain
Wiki's physical approach to the game made him inspirational as a centre.
Alongside close friend and future All Black captain Tana Umaga, Wiki wreaked havoc for the Junior Kiwis in 1992. In 1993 he played for Auckland.[5]
In 1994, he teamed up with Kangaroo legend, Mal Meninga (who was recently listed in the Australian Rugby League's Team of the Century, as centre to score a premiership win for the Canberra Raiders.
[edit] Representative Football
Wiki will probably be remembered most as the captain of the Kiwi team that scored an historic 24–0 win over the Kangaroos in 2005.[1] This was the first series win since 1978 and the first time in 20 years that New Zealand had kept Australia scoreless in a test match.
During that same period, his former junior Kiwi team mate Tana Umaga, was also captaining his team, the All Blacks to an undefeated tour of the England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland.
[edit] Retirement from international rugby league
After playing his 55th test match in the 2006 Tri Nations final Ruben Wiki announced his retirement from the international game along with other New Zealand veterans Nigel Vagana and Stacey Jones. New Zealand lost the final in golden point extra time 12-16 after the scores were locked at 12-all after 80 minutes.
Also in 2006, Wiki's biography, Ruben Wiki, was published.
In 2008, he was an assistant to the New Zealand team which won the Rugby League World Cup.
[edit] Career highlights
- 2009 - Teachers Eastern Rugby Union Football Club, Sea Dogs Presidents Grade
- 2008 - New Zealand Warriors upsetting minor premiers the Melbourne Storm 18-15 in what was the first time an 8th placed team had defeated the 1st placed since 1999.
- 2008 - First New Zealander to reach 300 first grade NRL games
- 2008 - The oldest regular first grader in the NRL
- 55 test caps for Kiwis 1994-2006 before retiring from representative football
- 18 tests as Kiwi captain 2003-2006
- 2006 - Set a record for the most first grade NRL games by a New Zealander, surpassing Stephen Kearney's mark of 264 games.
- 2005 - Was awarded man of the match in his 50th test for the Kiwis. In the same match he also became the first player ever to receive 50 test caps for their country. New Zealand won this historic test against Australia 24-0 and consequently beat Australia for the first time in a series since 1953.
- 1994 - Won a premiership with the Canberra Raiders club.
- Junior Club: Otahuhu Leopards
- First Grade Debut: Round 11, Canberra v South Sydney at Canberra Stadium, 13 June 1993
- Career Stats: To date, Wiki had played 312 first-grade career games, scoring 72 tries
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d "Wiki - Pedia". New Zealand Herald. 2008-05-02. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10507413. Retrieved on 2008-05-02.
- ^ "2009 NRL Player Movements". NRL Live. 2008-10-04. http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/. Retrieved on 2008-10-04.
- ^ "Wiki snubs UK offers and retires". BBC. 2008-10-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7668702.stm. Retrieved on 2008-10-14.
- ^ "Wiki stunned and humbled by Queen's Birthday honour". Rleague.com. 2007-06-04. http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=28289. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
- ^ Richard Becht. A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. ISBN 1-86950-154-3. p.184
[edit] External links
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