View source for Ruben Wiki

{{Short description|New Zealand international rugby league footballer}}
{{Use New Zealand English|date=September 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2015}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
|name           = Ruben Wiki<br>{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM|size=80%}}}}
|image          = RUBEN WIKI in 2013.jpg
|image_size     = 265px
|caption = 
|fullname       = Ruben James Wiki
|birth_date     = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1973|01|21}}
|birth_place    = [[Auckland]], New Zealand
|height         = {{convert|186|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}
|weight         = {{convert|104|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}
|position       = {{rlp|PR|CE|SR}}
|club1          = [[Otahuhu Leopards]]
|year1start     = 1991
|year1end       = 92
|appearances1   = 
|tries1         = 
|goals1         = 
|fieldgoals1    = 
|points1        = 
|club2          = [[Canberra Raiders]]
|year2start     = 1993
|year2end       = 04
|appearances2   = 224
|tries2         = 60
|goals2         = 0
|fieldgoals2    = 0
|points2        = 240
|club3          = {{nowrap|[[New Zealand Warriors]]}}
|year3start     = 2005
|year3end       = 08
|appearances3   = 87
|tries3         = 12
|goals3         = 0
|fieldgoals3    = 0
|points3        = 48
|teamA          = [[Auckland rugby league team|Auckland]]
|yearAstart     = 1993
|yearAend       = 
|appearancesA   = 
|triesA         = 
|goalsA         = 
|fieldgoalsA    = 
|pointsA        = 
|teamB          = [[New Zealand Māori rugby league team|New Zealand Māori]]
|yearBstart     = 1992
|yearBend       = 93
|appearancesB   = 
|triesB         = 
|goalsB         = 
|fieldgoalsB    = 
|pointsB        = 
|teamC          = [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand]]
|yearCstart     = 1994
|yearCend       = 06
|appearancesC   = 55
|triesC         = 15
|goalsC         = 0
|fieldgoalsC    = 0
|pointsC        = 60
|retired        = yes
|source         = <ref>[http://www.yesterdayshero.com.au/PlayerProfile_Ruben-Wiki_77.aspx Yesterday's Hero]</ref><ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org">{{cite web|url=http://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/players/ruben-wiki/summary.html|title=Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org|publisher=rugbyleagueproject.org|date=31 December 2017|access-date=1 January 2018}}</ref>
|updated        = 6 October 2008
}}

'''Ruben James Wiki''' {{post-nominals|country=NZL|ONZM}} (born 21 January 1973) is a New Zealand former professional [[rugby league]] footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s.<ref name="Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org"/> A [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand international]] representative centre-turned-prop forward, he retired with the record for most international appearances of any rugby league player in history.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ritchie|first=Dean|title=Test record holder Ruben Wiki says Darren Lockyer deserves to have Super League Tests recognised|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|place=Australia|date=22 April 2010|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/test-record-holder-ruben-wiki-says-darren-lockyer-deserves-to-have-super-league-test-recognised/story-e6frfgbo-1225856601350|access-date=22 April 2010}}</ref> As of 2023, he is still the highest capped Kiwi player ever.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Match Fit Season 3 Ep 4 {{!}} SPORT {{!}} ThreeNow |url=https://www.threenow.co.nz/shows/match-fit/season-3-ep-4/S2339-580/M71406-895 |access-date=2023-05-06 |website=www.threenow.co.nz}}</ref> At club level Wiki played for the [[Canberra Raiders]], winning the [[1994 NSWRL Premiership]] with them before finishing his career with the [[New Zealand Warriors]]. He currently works as the [[New Zealand Rugby League|NZRL]]'s High Performance Manager and a High Performance Assistant with the [[New Zealand Warriors]].

==Background==
Of [[Samoans|Samoan]] and [[Māori people|Māori]] heritage,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ciherald.co.ck/articles/h432f.htm|title=Apia Park to add Samoa Flavour to Sevens|publisher=Cook Islands Herald|date=5 November 2008|access-date=19 October 2013|issue=432}}</ref> Wiki was an [[Otahuhu Leopards]] junior. Alongside future [[All Black]] captain [[Tana Umaga]], Wiki wreaked havoc for the [[Junior Kiwis]] in 1992. He represented the [[New Zealand Māori rugby league team|New Zealand Māori side]] in 1992 and 1993, playing on the wing at the [[1992 Pacific Cup (rugby league)|1992 Pacific Cup]].

==Professional playing career==
===1990s===
Wiki commenced playing in Australia's [[Winfield Cup]] for the [[Canberra Raiders]]' first grade side in the [[1993 NSWRFL season]]. In 1993 he played for [[Auckland rugby league team|Auckland]].<ref>Richard Becht. ''A New Breed Rising: The Warriors Winfield Cup Challenge''. Auckland, HarperCollins, 1994. {{ISBN|1-86950-154-3}}. p.184</ref><ref>''Lion Red Rugby League Annual 1994'', [[New Zealand Rugby Football League]], 1994. p.142</ref>

In 1994, he teamed up with [[Mal Meninga]] as centre to score a premiership win for the Canberra Raiders. He was then involved in controversy when both the [[Canberra Raiders]] and new [[Auckland Warriors]] tried to register him for the 1995 season. After a long dispute Wiki stayed with Canberra. Wiki was selected for the [[New Zealand national rugby league team|New Zealand team]] to compete in the end of season [[1999 Rugby League Tri-Nations]] tournament. In the final against [[Australia national rugby league team|Australia]] he played at centre in the Kiwis' 22–20 loss.

===2000s===
In 2001 Wiki was banned for two matches after pleading guilty to a dangerous throw charge on Sydney prop [[Scott Logan (rugby league)|Scott Logan]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Jessup|first=Peter|title=Bartercard Cup starts off friendly|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |publisher=APN Holdings NZ Limited|date=14 March 2001|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=177103|access-date=6 October 2009}}</ref> Wiki played for Canberra until 2004 before moving to the Warriors.

Wiki joined the [[New Zealand Warriors]] in 2005. Wiki will probably be remembered most as the captain of the Kiwi team that scored an historic 24–0 victory over the Kangaroos in the [[2005 Tri-nations]].<ref name=Herald_Wiki-pedia/> This was the first series win since 1978 and the first time in 20 years that New Zealand had kept Australia scoreless in a test match. In the final Wiki was named man-of-the-match and became the first player of any nation to reach fifty test caps.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Richards|first=Huw|title=New Zealand dismantles Australia's dynasty, 24–0|work=[[The New York Times]]|place=USA|date=27 November 2005|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/11/27/sports/27iht-league.html|access-date=6 March 2011}}</ref> After playing his 55th test match in the [[2006 Tri Nations]] final Ruben Wiki announced his retirement from the international game along with other New Zealand veterans [[Nigel Vagana]] and [[Stacey Jones]]. New Zealand lost the final in [[golden point]] extra time 12–16 after the scores were locked at 12-all after 80 minutes.
Wiki retired having played 55 [[Test match (rugby league)|test match]]es for New Zealand between 1994 and 2006, at the time the most test matches played by any rugby league footballer in the world.<ref name=Herald_Wiki-pedia>{{cite news|title=Wiki-Pedia|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10507413|work=[[New Zealand Herald]] |date=2 May 2008|access-date=2 May 2008|first1=Peter|last1=Jessup|first2=Winston|last2=Aldworth}}</ref> He captained the [[New Zealand national rugby league team]] in 18 of those tests.<ref name=Herald_Wiki-pedia/>
Wiki's biography, ''Ruben Wiki'', was published in 2006.
He became only the tenth player and first New Zealander to play 300 first grade games in the NRL when he started at prop in the Warriors 28–26 victory against the [[Wests Tigers]] on 29 June 2008. He played, what was meant to be his final game with the [[New Zealand national rugby league team|All Golds]] as part of the [[2008 Rugby League World Cup]] against the [[New Zealand Māori rugby league team]]. Later that year he was an assistant to the New Zealand team which won the Rugby League World Cup.
Wiki snubbed the chance to join a [[Super League]] side for the 2009 season,<ref name="Wiki snubs UK offers and retires">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_league/7668702.stm|title=Wiki snubs UK offers and retires|publisher=BBC|date=14 October 2008|access-date=14 October 2008}}</ref> and entered into retirement from first grade rugby league in 2008.<ref name="2009 NRL Player Movements">{{cite web|url=http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|title=2009 NRL Player Movements|publisher=NRL Live|date=4 October 2008|access-date=4 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20081005172545/http://www.nrllive.com.au/2009-nrl-player-movements/|archive-date=5 October 2008|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

In 2009 Wiki came out of retirement to play for the Samoan Residents,<ref name="NZ_Herald_10602494">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/league/news/article.cfm?c_id=79&objectid=10602494|title=League: It's just like riding a bike...|author=Wiki, Ruben|date=11 October 2009|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref> a team representing his Mother's homeland,<ref name="NZ_Herald_10602148">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10602148&ref=rss|title=Wiki on side for Samoa|author=Tahana, Yvonne|date=9 October 2009|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref> in a one-off match which raised money for the [[2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami|Samoan tsunami]] relief fund.<ref name="Stuff.co.nz_2929642">{{cite news|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/2929642/Wiki-to-make-comeback-for-tsunami-benefit|title=Wiki to make comeback for tsunami benefit|date=4 October 2009|agency=[[NZPA]]|work=[[Stuff.co.nz]]|access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref>

===Highlights===
* 2017 - Played for the New Zealand Warriors in the Auckland Nines Tournament at the age of 44 <ref>{{cite web |title=Warriors great Ruben Wiki to play in NRL Auckland Nines |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/warriors-great-ruben-wiki-to-play-in-nrl-auckland-nines/GXUPO7KAIS2GRGUXV3DURIWIFI/ |website=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=4 August 2021 |language=en-NZ}}</ref>
* 2008 – [[New Zealand Warriors]] upsetting minor premiers the [[Melbourne Storm]] 18–15 in what was the first time an 8th placed team had defeated the 1st placed since 1999.
* 2008 – First New Zealander to reach 300 first grade NRL games
* 2008 – The oldest player in the NRL at 35 years and 250 days.<ref>{{Cite news
| last = Toohey
| first = Barry
| title = Still some bite in old Mad Dog
| work = [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|The Daily Telegraph]]
| place = Australia
| publisher = [[News Limited]]
| date = 2 February 2011
| url = http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/still-some-bite-in-old-mad-dog/story-e6frfgbo-1225998290314
| access-date = 2 February 2011}}</ref>
* 55 test caps for Kiwis 1994–2006 before retiring from representative football
* 18 tests as Kiwi captain 2003–2006
* 2006 – Set a record for the most first grade NRL games by a New Zealander, surpassing [[Stephen Kearney]]'s mark of 264 games.
* 2005 – Was awarded man of the match in his 50th test for the Kiwis. In the same match he also became the first player ever to receive 50 test caps for their country. New Zealand won this historic test against Australia 24–0 and consequently beat Australia for the first time in a series since 1953.
* 1994 – Won a premiership with the Canberra Raiders club.
* First Grade Debut: Round 11, Canberra v South Sydney at Canberra Stadium, 13 June 1993

==Post playing==
In August 2009, Wiki appeared on the New Zealand travel programme ''[[Intrepid Journeys]]'' with a trip to [[Laos]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.intrepidtravel.com/intrepidjourneys|title=trips featured in series six|access-date=15 August 2009}}</ref> In 2010 Wiki took up a role as a High Performance Assistant with the Warriors.<ref name=vets>{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10615337&ref=rss|title=NRL: Veterans return to Warriors|author=Wiki, Ruben|date=14 December 2009|agency=[[NZPA]]|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref> On 22 January Wiki was named the [[New Zealand Rugby League]]'s national High Performance Manager, a role which will ensure he is involved with the [[New Zealand national rugby league team]].<ref name="NZ_Herald_10621724">{{cite news|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10621724&ref=rss|title=League: NZRL appointment for Wiki|date=22 January 2010|agency=[[NZPA]]|work=[[The New Zealand Herald]]|access-date=6 November 2011}}</ref> Since 2008, he opened a youth gym back in [[Ōtāhuhu|Otahuhu, Auckland]].<ref name=":0" />

In 2023, Wiki participated in season 3 of ''Match Fit'', where former rugby players return to play against the Australian counterparts. He joined in the first season that featured former [[rugby league]] stars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Match Fit Season 3 Ep 1 {{!}} SPORT {{!}} ThreeNow |url=https://www.threenow.co.nz/shows/match-fit/season-3-ep-1/S2339-580/M70717-275 |access-date=2023-04-13 |website=www.threenow.co.nz}}</ref> He was the assistant coach for the team, and became an emergency substitute player against NZ Women's Open [[Tag rugby|Tag]] team. He was also named on the bench and played as a substitute against Kangaroos due to [[Shontayne Hape]] and [[Henry Fa'afili]] deemed medically ineligible to play contact rugby.

In 2024, Wiki returned in season 4 of Match Fit: Union vs. League as a technical coach to teach the rules of [[rugby league]] to the [[rugby union]] players. He also became a player for the final game against the combined [[Wallabies (Rugby Union)|Wallabies]] and [[Kangaroos football team|Kangaroos]] alumni team.

==Honours==
In 2002 and 2003 Wiki was named the [[Mal Meninga Medal|Canberra Raiders' player of the year]]. In 2006, he was named in a [[New Zealand national rugby league team|Kiwi]] All Time XIII at a gala awards dinner celebrating New Zealand's centenary of rugby league alongside his good friend [[Stacey Jones]]. Wiki and Jones are the only recent players to be named in the side with the majority of the players being from the "immortal" 1950-60s side and the destructive 1980s team.

Wiki was appointed an [[New Zealand Order of Merit|Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit]], for services to rugby league, in the [[2007 Birthday Honours (New Zealand)|2007 Queen's Birthday Honours]].<ref name="Wiki stunned">{{cite web|url=http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=28289|title=Wiki stunned and humbled by Queen's Birthday honour|publisher=Rleague.com|date=4 June 2007|access-date=4 June 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001105104/http://www.rleague.com/db/article.php?id=28289|archive-date=1 October 2007|df=dmy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://dpmc.govt.nz/publications/queens-birthday-honours-list-2007 |title=Queen's Birthday honours list 2007 |date=4 June 2007 |publisher=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |access-date=28 February 2020}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Wiki drank a bowl of the Pacific island drink [[kava]] after each match, which he credits for his longevity in the game. This became not only a personal ritual but was embraced by the team as a post match tradition.<ref>{{cite news|author=Tony Durkin|url=http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2008/02/29/after-game-its-kava-time/#|title=NZ Warriors: After the game, it's kava time|publisher=Sunshine Coast Daily|date=29 February 2008|access-date=19 October 2013}}</ref>

His sister, Germaine Wiki, has represented the [[Kiwi Ferns]].<ref name=coffey>Coffey and Wood ''The Kiwis: 100 Years of International Rugby League'' {{ISBN|1-86971-090-8}}</ref>

He is married with two children, including daughter Mackenzie who represents Cook Islands in rugby league and from 2023 plays for the Canberra Raiders NRLW team.

==References==
{{reflist|2}}
{{S-start}}
{{Succession box
| title  = [[New Zealand national rugby league team]] captain
| years  = 2005–2007
| before = [[Paul Rauhihi]]
| after  = [[Roy Asotasi]]
}}
{{S-end}}

{{Canberra Raiders squad 1994 NSWRL premiership}}
{{Navboxes
|title= New Zealand squads
| bg=black
| fg=white
| bordercolor=black
|list1=
{{New Zealand 1995 Rugby League World Cup squad}}
{{New Zealand squad 2000 Rugby League World Cup}}
{{New Zealand 2004 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{New Zealand - 2005 Tri-nations champions}}
{{New Zealand 2006 Rugby League Tri Nations squad}}
{{The New zealand Rugby League Team of the Century}}
}}
{{Australian Rugby League Hall of Fame}}
{{Rugby league footballers with 300 NRL games}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wiki, Ruben}}
[[Category:1973 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:20th-century New Zealand sportsmen]]
[[Category:21st-century New Zealand sportsmen]]
[[Category:Auckland rugby league team players]]
[[Category:Canberra Raiders players]]
[[Category:Junior Kiwis players]]
[[Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league players]]
[[Category:New Zealand Māori rugby league team players]]
[[Category:New Zealand national rugby league team captains]]
[[Category:New Zealand national rugby league team players]]
[[Category:New Zealand rugby league players]]
[[Category:New Zealand sportspeople of Samoan descent]]
[[Category:New Zealand Warriors captains]]
[[Category:New Zealand Warriors players]]
[[Category:Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit]]
[[Category:Otahuhu Leopards players]]
[[Category:Rugby league centres]]
[[Category:Rugby league players from Auckland]]
[[Category:Rugby league props]]
[[Category:Rugby league second-rows]]
[[Category:Samoan rugby league players]]