SYDNEY - A message from Once Were Warriors actor Temuera Morrison was instrumental in getting Ruben Wiki to sign for the New Zealand Warriors, but the solving of his sister's whereabouts also clinched it for the rugby league star.
Wiki, the Kiwis captain, made an impassioned plea last month for his
sister, Germaine, to make contact after she went missing from her Auckland home.
Wiki revealed this weekend that his sister had since made contact.
"We are all very relieved," he told the Sun-Herald newspaper. "She went missing for about a month. I don't really want to go into details about what happened. It was a big concern as anyone would understand, but she has been in touch and all is okay."
Wiki on Friday signed a three-year contract with the Warriors, who had wooed him with a personal message from Morrison, who played Jake the Muss in Once were Warriors.
Wiki's nickname is Jake The Muss. He received a DVD of the Warriors movie and an autographed Warriors jersey with No 11 on the back, addressed: "To The Real Jake The Muss".
The Sydney Morning Herald reported halfback Stacey Jones was also involved in persuading Wiki back to New Zealand after 11 seasons with the Canberra Raiders, telling him how much he wanted to play alongside Wiki .
Last week Warriors chief executive Mick Watson organised for the entire club to film separate messages of support and encouragement to Wiki and Steve Price, the Canterbury Bulldogs player who is expected to announce today whether he will join the club.
There was no decision from Price over whether he will take up a $A1.2 million ($1.33 million) three-year offer from the Warriors.
Price, 30, met Warriors management on Friday and has spoken to Bulldogs management since.
He said last night his decision would be announced in the "next few days, for sure", adding that he had to make a very hard call.
"Unfortunately there are going to be happy people and sad people in the whole thing," he told Channel 9.
Bulldogs management have been behind last-minute attempts by fans to persuade him to stay.
He arrived at Canterbury's Belmore Sports ground for a supposedly closed training session on Saturday to find 40 fans waiting in pouring rain to talk to him about his future.
They carried "Don't Leave Us Steve" banners and stayed at the ground for two hours.
Meanwhile, Cronulla Sharks fullback David Peachey is understood to have told the Warriors he would have no problem joining them next season if he fails to come to terms with the Sharks.
Warriors general manager Spiro Tsiros confirmed informal talks had been held and the club would step up negotiations with Peachey and Sharks prop Chris Beattie, if they fail to secure Price.
"The amount David is asking for is not outrageous by any means. He would be the ideal type of player for us - we need experienced Australians with leadership and David offers that," Tsiros said.
- NZPA
SYDNEY - A message from Once Were Warriors actor Temuera Morrison was instrumental in getting Ruben Wiki to sign for the New Zealand Warriors, but the solving of his sister's whereabouts also clinched it for the rugby league star.
Wiki, the Kiwis captain, made an impassioned plea last month for his
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