Ruben Wiki

Auckland centre (Otahuhu) came to Canberra in 1992 after representing the Junior Kiwis and NZ Maoris. Wiki's form as Mal Meninga's centre partner in 1994 made him one of the hottest properties in the game but the disclosure that he had signed a letter of agreement to play with the Auckland Warriors for 1995, led to a change of heart. Following a confident display in Canberra's thrashing of C’bury in the grand final, Wiki was chosen to tour Papua New Guinea with the NZ side while the clubs in question came to an out of court agreement regarding his services for the coming season. A sporadic visitor to the NZ Test team, Wiki moved into the forwards in his latter career, representing the Kiwis in the 2000 World Cup. In 2002 he captained his country in two Tests against Australia and was again at the helm when the Kiwis were thrashed 48-6 in July 2003. Wiki gained some personal satisfaction when he led NZ to a 30-16 win over Australia in October 2003. At the end of 2004 he left Canberra to see out his career with the Warriors, but not before overcoming a serious ankle injury in order play in the Raiders’ quarterfinal loss to the Roosters. In 2005 he led NZ in its historic Tri-Nations win against Australia (the Kiwis first ‘Test’ series win against Australia since 1953) but announced his international retirement after NZ was beaten in extra-time in the 2006 Tri-Nations final.