NRL: Matulino, Henry staying with Warriors

Coach Brian McClennan says 23-year-old Ben Matulino will be a 'big part' of the Warriors' future. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Prop Ben Matulino and rookie centre Ben Henry have both committed their playing futures to the Warriors until at least the end of the 2015 NRL season.

Matulino is one of the game's best front rowers and is a key player for the club. Henry has been ever-present at centre this season but probably has more of a future in the second-row where he has played most of his football to date.

Coach Brian McClennan hailed the contribution both players had already made to the Warriors.

"They're both fantastic examples of our development programme," he said. "For a player who's only 23, Ben Matulino has achieved so much and done so well for himself.

"To have already played 100 NRL matches as well as 12 tests is a great achievement. He's been in outstanding form for us all season and I know how much it means to him to play for our club.

"It's the same with Ben Henry, who has done a fantastic job playing in the centres. He's only 20 and has just kept improving with each game.

"These two young men will be a big part of the Warriors for a long time to come."

Matulino made his NRL debut against Cronulla in 2008 and brought up his 100th appearance against the same opposition almost four years to the day later. The 20th player to join the Warriors' 100-game club, Matulino became a history-maker on June 16 as the first NYC graduate from any club to reach the 100-game mark in the NRL.

"I'm really glad to be playing here for the Warriors," he said. "To be honest, I can't picture myself playing anywhere else. I like it here so much, coming through the club with so many players who have been part of the Vodafone Junior Warriors and now the NRL side. There's so much talent here and I want to be a part of it and do what I can to help the club in every way possible."

Known as a quiet achiever but a highly-visible hard-hitting defender, Matulino became an NRL player after starting out in the inaugural NYC campaign in 2008. Initially a second rower, he has converted to the front row, evolving from a bench role to a regular starting prop.

Reflecting his form this season, Matulino ranks 12th equal on the points table for the Dally M Player of the Year.

Henry was marked for a big future from the moment he came into the Junior Warriors as a 17-year-old in 2009. Used as a back rower in the NYC, he was converted into a centre for his rookie NRL season and has played 14-straight games and scored four tries.

"I'm like Ben [Matulino] in the sense this is the club I always wanted to be a part of and it's where I want to stay," he said.

"It's a real honour to be representing the Warriors and to be playing in the NRL is a huge thrill. I really appreciate the work the coaching staff and all the senior players put into me. I just want to learn and improve as much as I can."

Henry is easily the NRL's busiest centre on defence, making 293 tackles so far. He's also one of the most effective defenders among all NRL centres, missing few tackles per game than the bulk of his rivals.

As an NYC player, Henry made a club record 64 appearances in the grade. Injury robbed him of captaining the Junior Warriors to their maiden premiership in 2010 but he made amends when he led the side to their grand final victory in his last NYC appearance last year.