NEW PLYMOUTH // The New Zealand legend Ruben Wiki has turned down lucrative offers from the Super League and opted to retire. After months of conjecture about his future, the owner of a world record 55 Tests for the Kiwis and 312 NRL appearances - a record for a New Zealander - the 35-year-old bows out as arguably the greatest player in his country's history. At the announcement of his retirement in the New Zealand camp, where he is a mentor ahead of this month's World Cup in Australia, Wiki revealed he had been offered deals by Super League clubs Wigan and Leeds but family reasons dictated his decision to call it a day.
"I could have played on, but to be honest, enjoying the finals run with the Warriors and then playing for the All Golds has been the perfect way to finish," said Wiki. Wiki had been considering retirement earlier in the season when he dropped down to Warriors' feeder side the Auckland Vulcans and was struggling with injury. But in his typically determined fashion, he fought back to become the first New Zealander to play 300 NRL matches. * PA Sport
