Packer, Russell

Russell PACKER [Player Stats]


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Warriors secure top New Zealand prospects on new contracts
Thu June 5, 2008
by Matthew O'Neill
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Two more of New Zealand rugby league's most sought-after prospects Russell Packer and Ben Matulino have joined the exciting Sonny Fai in committing themselves to the Vodafone Warriors.

Just weeks after securing off-contract second rower Fai (20) on a new two-year deal, the Vodafone Warriors today announced they had re-signed prop Packer (18) and back rower Matulino (19), further underlining the club's success in recruiting and retaining a group of the country's best young players.

Foxton-raised Packer, who has already played four NRL games, has been clinched on a four-year contract to the end of the 2012 season.

Matulino, like 2008 NRL debutant Fai, will be at Mt Smart Stadium until at least the end of the 2010 season. The huge Wellington forward has been outstanding for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in the under-20 National Youth Competition and has already been selected as 18th man for the club's NRL side.

By re-signing Packer, Matulino and Fai, the Vodafone Warriors were able to hold off several rival clubs who were also chasing their signatures.

It means the club now has five of New Zealand's most highly-rated young players secured for at least the next two and half seasons.

Last year Kiwi prop Sam Rapira (21) was signed on a three-year contract extension taking him through to the end of 2012 and in April giant Kiwi winger Manu Vatuvei (22) re-signed until the end of the 2011 season. Rapira, now with 47 NRL appearances being him, played in all of the Kiwis' six tests last year while Vatuvei, a 65-game Vodafone Warrior, has already played 11 tests.

"We were thrilled to be able to re-sign Sonny and we're really excited to have Russell and Ben on new contracts," said Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah.

"There was a lot of competition to keep all three players but we think it's a reflection on what we now have in place at the Vodafone Warriors that we've been able to retain all of them.

"With Manu and Sam also contracted for several years, we have the nucleus of a team of New Zealand-made players to take us into the future."

Scurrah said the contract deals for Packer and Matulino as well as Fai were a tribute to the work done by Vodafone Junior Warriors coach Tony Iro and development manager Dean Bell through the Allied Work Force development programme.

"They've done a great job with these players and our coaches believe there are more NYC players not too far away from pushing for promotion to the NRL," said Scurrah.

"That comes back to our aim to turn the Vodafone Warriors into a development club and we're now seeing the benefits of that strategy. It's a long process but it's paying off now and, through the NYC, we're set to reap even more rewards."

For their part, Packer and Matulino couldn't be more excited about staying in Auckland.

"I owe the Vodafone Warriors so much for what they've done for me," said Packer.

"It was a huge move coming from Foxton to chase the dream of becoming an NRL player and it's worked out beyond my expectations. To be playing in the NRL alongside so many great players at the age of 18 has been unreal and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

"The guys have been brilliant and the coaches have helped me so much."

Earlier in the season Packer put together a string of performances that established him as the early leader in the Dally M NYC player of the year. He was gaining an average of around 180 metres a game, once topping 200 metres.

Matulino has also been a standout in the under-20 competition and, like Packer, he is motivated to establish himself as an NRL player.

"For now I'm really enjoying playing in the NYC," he said.

"I just want to keep on improving my game and Tony (Iro) and the coaches at the club are helping me in a big way. Coming up here from Wellington was a big change but it's been brilliant.

"This is a great club to be at and some day hopefully I'll have a shot at the NRL."

Vodafone Warriors coach Ivan Cleary is confident Packer and Matulino have big futures ahead of them.

"They obviously have great potential along with Sonny. As long as they keep learning and improving, they're going to be vital players for the Vodafone Warriors."

The Packer and Matulino announcements follow three other key signings in the last few days.

Brisbane winger Denan Kemp (21) has signed with the Vodafone Warriors for two seasons, marking his decision with a club record-equalling four-try haul in the Broncos' 30-26 win over Parramatta on Friday night.

And on Saturday night the club confirmed captain Steve Price had a one-year contract for 2009 and fullback Wade McKinnon a two-year extension through to 2011.

RUSSELL PACKER
Born: October 9, 1989
Birthplace: Levin, NZ
Position: Prop
Height: 188cm
Weight: 111kg
Junior Club: Levin Lions (Horowhenua)
NRL Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Canberra, May 4, 2008 (Round 8)
NRL Career: 4 appearances (2008)
NRL Points: 4 (1 try)
Representative: New Zealand Under-18 2007, New Zealand A 2006, Junior Kiwis 2006, New Zealand Under-16 2005
Educated: Manawatu College (Foxton)

BEN MATULINO
Born: January 3, 1989
Birthplace: Wellington, NZ
Position: Second rower
Height: 193cm
Weight: 108kg
Junior Club: Te Aroha Eels (Wellington)
NRL Debut: Yet to make debut
NRL Career: Nil
NRL Points: Nil
Representative: New Zealand Under-18 2007, Junior Kiwis 2006
Educated: St Bernard's College (Wellington)

News Source: www.warriors.co.nz


Warriors struck by more injury trouble for Canberra clash
Tue April 29, 2008
Source: www.warriors.co.nz

Injuries have left the Vodafone Warriors with only 17 fit players in their NRL squad for Sunday's eighth-round clash against the Canberra Raiders at Mt Smart Stadium.

Veteran prop Ruben Wiki and promising second rower Sonny Fai are the latest to join the casualty list.

Wiki (35) has been ruled out of the match against his old club with a hand injury while Fai (20) picked up a shoulder complaint playing for the Vodafone Junior Warriors in their 36-28 NYC win against Gold Coast on Sunday.

Also out of contention for the match were prop Steve Price (hamstring), fullback Wade McKinnon (knee), centre Jerome Ropati (hamstring), wingers Manu Vatuvei (leg) and Patrick Ah Van (neck) and prop Herman Retzlaff (hand).

The injury toll has created an opportunity for 18-year-old prop Russell Packer to make his NRL debut off the bench after a string of impressive performances in the under-20 competition. He'll become the club's 141st first-grade player, and the sixth to make his debut for the Vodafone Warriors this year.

With Vatuvei out for four to six weeks with a spiral fracture in his left fibula, Aidan Kirk returns on the wing for his second NRL match after playing for the Auckland Vulcans in the New South Wales Cup since his first-grade debut against Melbourne on March 17.

"We had a great run with injuries last year but it's obviously our turn for a change of luck now," said coach Ivan Cleary.

"It's something we've had to deal with all year. That's the way it is in this competition and now we just have to dig that little bit deeper against Canberra on Sunday.

"We've performed well at home and had our issues on the road but that doesn't mean it will all fall into place now we're back at Mt Smart Stadium.

"The boys love playing here and they'll need all the support possible on Sunday.

"It's a great chance for Russell to have a taste of the NRL. He has done everything asked of him in the NYC.

"It also means we've had a second player who has come up from under-20s into first grade this season (after Fai), which is a good sign for our development programme."

The Vodafone Warriors used only 23 players in 26 matches last year but, with Packer called up this weekend, they'll equal that number after just eight matches this season.

He has made the most runs (128) of any player in the NYC and is gaining an average of more than 180 metres a game.

After his NRL debut at fullback, Kirk has been used in a utility role for the Vulcans at a time when they have put together a run of form that has lifted them to fifth spot in the NSW Cup. Kirk has scored three tries in the last five games.

Sunday's match will be the first in Auckland between the Vodafone Warriors and the Raiders since 2005. The home side won 24-16 then but the Raiders prevailed in both matches in Canberra in 2006 and 2007.

With Price and Wiki both out Micheal Luck will be captain in his 58th consecutive match since joining the club. He also led the side against the Titans last Sunday.

NEW ZEALAND WARRIORS v CANBERRA RAIDERS
Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland
4.00pm (NZ), 2.00pm (AEST)
Sunday, May 4, 2008

Warriors (NRL):
1 Lance Hohaia
2 Michael Crockett
3 Brent Tate
4 Ryan Shortland
5 Aidan Kirk
6 Michael Witt
7 Grant Rovelli
8 Sam Rapira
9 Nathan Fien
10 Evarn Tuimavave
11 Simon Mannering
12 Logan Swann
13 Micheal Luck (c)

Interchange:
14 Ian Henderson
15 Russell Packer
16 Epalahame Lauaki
17 Wairangi Koopu

Coach: Ivan Cleary

News sent by: www.warriors.co.nz

====================================================================================================== 2008 Toyota National Youth Competition New Zealand Warriors 11 games; 2 tries, 8 points. [View] Round 1 [17 Mar 08] L 22-32 v Storm (A). [PR] [View] Round 2 [23 Mar 08] L 22-26 v Eels (H). [PR] [View] Round 3 [31 Mar 08] W 22-14 v Sea Eagles (A). [PR] [View] Round 4 [06 Apr 08] W 30-18 v Knights (H). [PR] [View] Round 5 [13 Apr 08] D 26-26 v Bulldogs (H). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 6 [19 Apr 08] D 24-24 v Cowboys (A). [PR] [View] Round 7 [27 Apr 08] W 36-28 v Gold Coast (A). [PR] [View] Round 15 [22 Jun 08] W 38-10 v Sea Eagles (H). [PR] [View] Round 16 [29 Jun 08] L 34-45 v Tigers (A). [PR] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 20 [27 Jul 08] W 36-12 v Storm (H). [PR] [View] Round 22 [09 Aug 08] L 12-32 v Broncos (H). [PR] ====================================================================================================== 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership Canberra Raiders ====================================================================================================== 2008 NRL Telstra Premiership New Zealand Warriors 5 games; 1 tries, 4 points. [View] Round 8 [04 May 08] W 14-6 v Raiders (H). [BE] [View] Round 10 [18 May 08] L 22-46 v Panthers (A). [BE] 4 Pts; 1t [View] Round 11 [25 May 08] L 12-38 v Roosters (H). [BE] [View] Round 12 [31 May 08] W 18-16 v Knights (A). [BE] [View] Round 13 [06 Jun 08] L 28-35 v Rabbitohs (H). [BE] ======================================================================================================

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