Ruben Wiki

Infobox rugby league biography
playername = Ruben Wiki
fullname = Ruben James Wiki
nickname =

---

position = rlp|PR
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1973|01|21|df=yes
placeofbirth = Auckland
countryofbirth = New Zealand
height = height|m=1.86
weight = 104 kg (16 st 5 lb)
club1 = leagueicon|Canberra Raiders|16 Canberra Raiders
year1start = 1993
year1end = 2004
appearances1 = 225
tries1 = 60
goals1 = 0
fieldgoals1 = 0
points1 = 240
club2 = leagueicon|New Zealand Warriors|16 New Zealand Warriors
year2start = 2005
year2end = 2008
appearances2 = 90
tries2 = 12
goals2 = 0
fieldgoals2 = 0
points2 = 48
teamA = leagueicon|NZ|16 New Zealand
yearAstart = 1994
yearAend = 2006
appearancesA = 55
triesA = 15
goalsA = 0
fieldgoalsA = 0
pointsA = 60
updated = 6 October 2008
source = [http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Ruben-Wiki_77.aspx Yesterday's Hero]

Ruben Wiki, ONZM (born 25 January 1973 in South Auckland, New Zealand) is a professional rugby league player 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).cite news |title=Wiki - Pedia |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10507413 |work =New Zealand Herald |date=2008-05-02 |accessdate=2008-05-02] He captained the New Zealand national rugby league team in 18 of those tests.

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.

Wiki is contracted with the Warriors until the end of the 2008 season. 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.

Initially a centre, Wiki now plays predominantly at prop forward though he can also play in the second row.

It remains unclear whether will join a European Super League side for the 2009 season, or enter into retirement.cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=NRL Live|date=2008-10-04|accessdate=2008-10-04]

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.cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=28289|title=Wiki stunned and humbled by Queen's Birthday honour |publisher=Rleague.com|date=2007-06-04|accessdate=2007-06-04]

Kava

Wiki drinks a bowl of the Pacific island drink kava after each match, which he credits for his longevity in the game.

From inspirational player to legendary captain

Wiki's physical approach to the game made him inspirational as a centre.

Alongside close friend and All Black captain-to-be Tana Umaga, Wiki wreaked havoc for the Junior Kiwis.

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.

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. 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.

Retirement from international rugby league

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.

2008 and beyond

Wiki has announced he will be seeking a contract in Super League from 2009 onwards. Virtually every club is likely to be competing for his services however no deal has been announced with any clubOn the 27th of September, the curtain closed on Wiki's glittering career, when the New Zealand Warriors were defeated by the Manly Sea Eagles 34-6 in the second NRL preliminary final. There were rumours though, that he would don the N.Z jersey for the impending World Cup.

Career highlights

* 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

References

External links

* [http://www.warriors.co.nz/page/auto/1112245421:8667:7532:91129361.html Ruben Wiki Official Player Profile]
* [http://www.nrl.com/myclub/players.cfm?TeamID=6&PlayerID=66 Ruben Wiki NRL Player Profile]