Warriors Select 44-Year-Old Ruben Wiki To Play In Upcoming NRL Nines

At 44, most footy players know their time out on rugby league paddock is long since over. Most NRL fans would have thought that about former Raiders and Warriors legend Ruben Wiki, too.

Yet the 44-year-old ex-New Zealand captain and Warriors club trainer has got the call-up for the New Zealand side's squad for the upcoming NRL Nines at Eden Park in Auckland.

Wiki follows in the footsteps of other veteran players Brad Fittler (Roosters) and Steven Menzies (Sea Eagles) playing in the Nines, however Wiki is older than both when they played. Fittler was 42 when he suited up for Sydney in 2014, while 'Beaver' was 41 in the same tournament.

"It was a huge buzz when 'Mooks' (Warriors coach Steven Kearney) asked me," Wiki told the New Zealand Herald.

Highlights of Ruben Wiki in action and reflecting on his NRL career. Source: Youtube.

"I might have dropped the hint in the past that I'd like to have a go, especially when guys like Brad Fittler and Steve Menzies were picked, but I didn't think it would happen.

Kearney says Wiki was fizzing at the idea of playing in the Nines.

"Rubes didn't need much convincing," he said. "Put it this way, we certainly didn't have to ask him twice. We told all the players this morning and they couldn't have been more excited.

"While Ruben finished playing quite a few years ago, he has always prided himself in staying in fantastic condition and he's absolutely jumping out of his skin for this."

Warriors trainer Ruben Wiki tackling a streaker at a NRL game in Dunedin. Source: Youtube.

Wiki is arguably one of the finest rugby league players New Zealand has ever produced. Along with 55 tests for New Zealand, Wiki played 312 first-grade games for Canberra (1993-2004) and the Warriors (2005-2008).

"I've got some work to do getting ready for contact again but I'm looking forward to it," Wiki said of the Nines tournament, which will be played on February 4 and 5 (Waitangi weekend).

"While I'm a bit nervous about it, the thought of pulling on a Warriors jersey again is cool. I'm so honoured and excited.

"I've never played on Eden Park either so now I have the chance to run out there in front of my family and thousands of fans. That's unreal."