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Auckland,
New
Zealand,
April 12, 2011 - Highly-rated Gold Coast hooker
Nathan Friend will link up with the Vodafone Warriors
next season on a two-year contract with an option for
2014. The
Toowoomba-born Friend, who was close to playing for
Queensland in last
year's State of Origin, has amassed a
club record 97 appearances for the Titans since their
debut season in the NRL in 2007. After
starting his NRL career with the Brisbane Broncos, he
spent four seasons with the Melbourne Storm as back-up
to Cameron Smith, playing in the 2006 grand final before
joining Gold Coast. Vodafone
Warriors recruitment manager Dean Bell said the signing
represented a significant breakthrough for the Vodafone
Warriors. "We're
really pleased to be able to secure a player of the
highest quality in such a key position," he said.
"It's not
often anyone rated as one of the best in a specialist
role becomes available on the market. Such players are
usually well tied up, so for us to get someone as
talented as Nathan is a real
achievement." Named the
Titans' 2009 player of the year, Friend's a skilful
playmaker out of dummy half - as he has proved against
the Vodafone Warriors in the past - and is also renowned
as one of the NRL's leading defenders. In last Friday
night's clash against North
Queensland, his first outing of the season,
he made a game-high 57. Last season he totalled 1120
tackles (the most of all players), 1067 in 2009, 910 in
2008 and 783 in 2007. Regarded
as one of the game's most durable players, he made 56
consecutive appearances for the Titans to the end of
last season. Friend is
a qualified personal trainer and also a bricklayer by
trade. NATHAN
FRIEND Born: February
28, 1981 Birthplace: Toowoomba,
Queensland Position: Hooker Height:
172cm Weight: 84kg Previous
Clubs: Melbourne Storm (2003-2006),
Brisbane Broncos
(2002),
NRL
Debut: Brisbane v Wests
Tigers, Campbelltown Sports
Ground, NRL
Career: 132
appearances 2002-2011:
Brisbane Broncos: 1
appearance 2002 Melbourne Storm: 34
appearances 2003-2006 Gold
Coast Titans: 97 appearances
2007-2011 NRL
Points: 28
points (7 tries) Representative: Nil
Friend
made his NRL debut with the Broncos in 2002 before
joining the Storm where he added a further 34
appearances before becoming one of the Titans'
foundation players. "I've had
a great time with the Titans. They gave me the chance to
establish myself at first-grade level and I appreciate
what they've done for me," he said. "While my
focus is on doing well for them for the rest of this
season, I'm also pleased to have my future sorted out
for next year and beyond. It's an important contract not
just for me but also my
family."
Junior
Club: Wests
Juniors (Toowoomba)
Toowoomba Clydesdales
(Queensland)
May 31, 2002 (Round 12)