Wiki given leave to look elsewhere

Kiwis and Canberra enforcer Ruben Wiki could be on the way out of his beloved National Rugby League club.

A 214 game veteran at the Raiders, the Kiwis captain is off-contract at the end of the season and has indicated, through manager Jim Banaghan, that he will test the open market after June 30.

Wiki, the Raiders' back-to-back player of the year in 2002-03, will consider offers from rival NRL clubs and the English Super League.

Banaghan told the League Correspondent that Wiki, 31, was hoping for a developmental or junior coaching role at the Raiders when he hangs up his boots as part of a new deal.

"For Ruben, we want to look at life post-football," said Banaghan, who said Wiki's next contract was probably his last as a player.

Raiders chief executive Simon Hawkins and coach Matthew Elliott met with Banaghan, who also represents centre Joel Monaghan, last weekend with a view to keeping the pair in Canberra.

"We've been in negotiations for a while and we're desperate to have them remain at the club," Elliott said.

Auckland-born Wiki returns home later this week where the Raiders take on the New Zealand Warriors at Ericsson Stadium on Sunday.

Wiki, who plays second row or prop, made his first grade as a centre for the Raiders against South Sydney in June 1993.