Wiki spells it out

A message from Once Were Warriors actor Temuera Morrison was instrumental in getting Ruben Wiki to sign for the New Zealand Warriors, but the solving of his sister's whereabouts also clinched it for the rugby league star.

Wiki, the Kiwis captain, made an impassioned plea last month for his sister, Germaine, to make contact after she went missing from her Auckland home.

Wiki revealed this weekend that his sister had since made contact.

"We are all very relieved," he told the Sun-Herald newspaper. "She went missing for about a month. I don't really want to go into details about what happened. It was a big concern as anyone would understand, but she has been in touch and all is OK."

Wiki on Friday signed a three-year contract with the Warriors, who had wooed him with a personal message from Morrison, who played Jake the Muss in Once were Warriors.

Wiki's nickname is Jake The Muss. He received a DVD of the Warriors movie and an autographed Warriors jersey with No 11 on the back, addressed: "To The Real Jake The Muss".

The Sydney Morning Herald reported halfback Stacey Jones was also involved in persuading Wiki back to New Zealand after 11 seasons with the Canberra Raiders, telling him how much he wanted to play alongside Wiki.

Last week Warriors chief executive Mick Watson organised for the entire club to film separate messages of support and encouragement to Wiki and Steve Price, the Canterbury Bulldogs player who is expected to announce today whether he will join the Auckland-based club.

"It was a bit of a surprise," Wiki said. "It's pretty cool. The guys at the Warriors I've played with for New Zealand sent me some messages on video, which was also pretty cool."

Wiki said family was a big factor in his return to his homeland.

"I want my kids to grow up with their cousins," he said. "It will be great to be back home."

"I'm excited by the challenge that the Warriors present. People have been very critical of them, but don't forget they were in the grand final a couple of years ago and they have the makings of a good side," he told the Sun-Herald.

There was no decision last night from Price over whether he will take up a $A1.2 million ($NZ1.33 million) three-year offer from the Warriors and leave the Bulldogs.

Price, 30, met Warriors management on Friday and has spoken to Bulldogs management since.

Last night, he said his decision would be announced in the "next few days, for sure", adding that he had to make a very hard call.

"Unfortunately there are going to be happy people and sad people in the whole thing," he told Channel 9 after leading the Bulldogs to a 25-18 win over the Melbourne Storm.

Price said his decision would rest on what was best for his family and he hoped people understood that.

Most league commentators expect Price to go to Auckland, but Bulldogs management have been behind last-minute attempts by fans to persuade him to stay.

He arrived at Canterbury's Belmore Sports ground for a supposedly closed training session yesterday to find 40 fans waiting in pouring rain to talk to him about his future.

They carried "Don't Leave Us Steve" banners and stayed at the ground for two hours.

Bulldogs chief executive Malcolm Noad didn't hide who was behind the plan to influence Price.

"I just said to one of the guys here we should make it an open session and see if our fans want to come down and give their support," Noad told the League Correspondent.

"I think we made one call to a fan to say come down and say 'g'day' to Steve and 40 or 50 ended up coming along. It was really nice of them."

Meanwhile, Cronulla Sharks fullback David Peachey is understood to have told the Warriors he would have no problem joining them next season if he fails to come to terms with the Sharks.

Warriors general manager Spiro Tsiros confirmed informal talks had been held and the club would step up negotiations with Peachey and Sharks prop Chris Beattie, if they fail to secure Price.

"The amount David is asking for is not outrageous by any means. He would be the ideal type of player for us ? we need experienced Australians with leadership and David offers that," Tsiros said.

Meanwhile, Canberra coach Matthew Elliot described the Sydney Roosters' signing of Raiders centre Joel Monaghan as "predictable", a day after slamming "people who crawl out from under a rock" when players are off contract.

Monaghan's agent, Jim Banaghan, yesterday confirmed the 22-year-old had signed a three-year deal with the Roosters, joining second-rower Ruben Wiki (Warriors) and Luke Davico (Wigan) in leaving the club at the end of the season.

Elliott blamed speculation about player movements for the uncomfortable closeness of the Raiders' 32-28 win over North Queensland at Canberra Stadium on Saturday night.

"It's just predictable," he said yesterday. "It's disappointing but I wish Joel the best and we will just focus on what we have to do for the rest of the year."

Elliott was less philosophical on Saturday night, saying the toing-and-froing over the future of several players had been a distraction in the lead-up to the game.

Wiki announced on match eve he was heading to Auckland, while Raiders officials denied last week that Davico had been granted a release - then circulated a media statement confirming it at full-time.

The Raiders have failed to sign Brent Kite from St George Illawarra and David Kidwell from Melbourne, with Hull's Jason Smith their only high-profile signing and Bradford's Stuart Fielden in their sights.

Skipper Simon Woolford said: "Late in the week I was really thinking a lot about what was going on with the player movements.

"It's a part of being a professional rugby league player. These things happen every year and we've just got to do the best we can and get through it."

Woolford said Wiki and Davico were "in the twilight of their careers and both doing what is best for them. Good luck to them for making the decisions they have.

"No one could begrudge that. We've been good mates for a long time now and they've certainly got my blessing.

"It still doesn't take away the disappointment that they're not going to be here next year."