Charlie Gubb
Simon Mannering
Jacob Lillyman
ANNOUNCEMENT | Mannering re-signed
Richard Becht
Sat 12th April 2014, 03:59PM
Vodafone Warriors captain Simon Mannering has underlined his total commitment to the club by today signing a new four-year contract to the end of the 2018 NRL season.
On the eve of the Vodafone Warriors’ sixth-round clash against the Bulldogs at Eden Park, owner Eric Watson said the signing was not only one of the longest but also one of the most significant in the club’s history.
Watson also revealed veteran prop Jacob Lillyman had been re-signed to the end of the 2017 season and back rower Sione Lousi to the end of 2016 bringing to 12 the number of players who have extended their stays in recent times.
“This a signal of how much the Vodafone Warriors mean to Simon, Jacob, Sione and all the other players who have re-signed,” he said.
“It’s also a tribute to the work Dean Bell (general manager football operations) is doing with Wayne Scurrah (chief executive) with our recruitment.”
He hailed Mannering’s contract extension as critical.
“Simon’s signing is a fantastic coup and a huge boost for the club,” he said.
“He is exceptional across the board as our record-holding captain, a player of the highest order and also a person of tremendous quality.
“I’m elated he is extending his career with us to what will be 14 seasons. Only a few in the game today can measure their dedication to one club in such terms.”
The 27-year-old Mannering, off contract at the end of this season, had attracted significant interest from other clubs.
“This is the biggest contract of my career because it could possibly be my last,” he said.
“I love this club and always will. I’m keen to be a part of our future and have the greatest faith in the direction to the club is heading. We have much to offer this season and in years to come.
“It’s not just about football, though. I also have my family to consider. That was a big part of the decision and I’m really happy it has all worked out.”
Andrew McFadden, appointed interim head coach this week, also welcomed the contract extensions announced today.
“I have the greatest admiration for Simon and what he means to the team and the club,” he said.
“It’s the same with Jacob. Like Simon, he’s such an experienced and consistent performer, the type of player we place the highest value on in our squad.
“Sione started the season really well after his injury trouble last year and has a lot to offer us as do all the players re-signed.”
Lillyman (30) has extended his Vodafone Warriors career to nine seasons with his new three-year deal. He became the club’s 22nd 100-game player last season and will play his 168th career match tomorrow. Named the players’ player of the year twice in the first five rounds, Lillyman has been making a big impact off the bench, averaging more than 130 metres a game so far.
Lousi (24) had his 2013 season destroyed before it even started, a knee injury sidelining him for all but a few minutes of the first trial match. He has come back this year to represent the club at the NRL Auckland Nines and claim an NRL spot until he was suspended for two games.
Mannering, who made his NRL debut as an 18-year-old in 2005, will lead the Vodafone Warriors for the 94th time when they face Canterbury-Bankstown at Eden Park tomorrow (4.00pm kick-off; match day sponsor: SKYCITY).
He is five games into his 10th season as an NRL player and his fifth as captain. He has the chance tomorrow to bring up his 50th victory as captain, another first for a Vodafone Warriors captain. He has a record of 49 wins and 44 losses so far while his predecessor Steve Price had a record of 42 wins and 47 losses with two draws.
As well as being set to become the club’s first 100-game captain, he is also in line to become only the second player to play 200 games for the Vodafone Warriors. He sits on 193 heading into the Eden Park game tomorrow and is on track to hit 200 in the first home game of the year at Mount Smart Stadium when the Vodafone Warriors face Newcastle in June.
Apart from Mannering, Lillyman and Lousi, general manager football operations Dean Bell today revealed nine other players have been re-signed recently.
John Palavi, who played the first two NRL games of the year, has been signed to the end of 2016 as has prop Charlie Gubb. Gubb, an NRL Nines representative, made his debut last year and is in line to reappear in the NRL side at Eden Park tomorrow.
Others secured on two-year contracts are former Vodafone Junior Warriors captain David Bhana and NYC prop Sam
Lisone, centre Solomone Kata and fullback Brad Abbey. Bhana is now in the fulltime NRL squad and has been named on the Vodafone Warriors’ NRL bench tomorrow while
Lisone has appeared for both the club’s NYC and New South Wales Cup sides as well as being the NRL side’s 18th man; Kata, who excelled for the Vodafone Junior Warriors last year, is still NYC-eligible and played at the NRL Auckland Nines; much sought-after St Paul’s College product Abbey, still only 17, will make his sixth consecutive NYC appearance for the Vodafone Junior Warriors tomorrow.
Last month the exciting Tuimoala Lolohea and
David Fusitua were re-signed. Still NYC-eligible they both starred for the Vodafone Warriors at the NRL Nines and were also used in the club’s NRL trials. They’ve been used mainly at New South Wales Cup level this year while Fusitua made his NRL debut against St George Illawarra at Eden Park in March. Lolohea has been signed to the end of 2017, Fusitua to the end of 2016.
Just before Christmas prop Suaia Matagi (26), who had an outstanding rookie year in 2013, had his contract extended to the end of the 2015 season. He has appeared in all five NRL matches this year.
-Original link has been taken done by the club
Charlie Gubb
Warriors refuse to let Charlie Gubb leave for better offer
DAVID LONG
Last updated 05:00, December 11 2016
The Warriors are playing hard ball with Charlie Gubb in refusing to releasing from the option they hold on him for 2017.
Three other NRL clubs, including the reigning premiers, Cronulla Sharks want to sign him for next season, for significantly more money than he's on now, but the Warriors insist on keeping hold of him.
The 26-year-old prop has worked his way up from being a non-contracted player, through the reserve grade team, to be one of the regular faces in the 17 each week for the Auckland club.
He signed a contract in early 2014 with the Warriors, which ran until the end of the 2016 season, although club would also hold an option for 2017 as part of that deal.
At the time that contract was signed, Gubb was unproven at NRL level and his contract was one of the smallest at the club. But he has gone on to be a cult favourite at Mt Smart Stadium and one of the hardest working front rowers in the game.
This has been noticed by other clubs who want him for next year, but in order to get him, they need the Warriors to let him go. The club won't do that, nor will they offer him a contract extension for beyond next year where he'd be paid as much as other clubs are prepared to offer.
The Warriors may feel they want to keep Gubb to make sure they have plenty of prop cover for the 2017 season, But with Ben Matulino, Jacob Lillyman, Sam
Lisone, Albert Vete,
Bunty Afoa and Toafofoa Sipley on the books that shouldn't be an issue.
It could be that the Warriors have an unhappy Gubb in their club all season, although Gubb isn't the type of person who could be a disruptive and negative influence on his team-mates.
New coach Warriors Stephen
Kearney has been impressed with Gubb's attitude in training and wants to keep him, but Gubb's manager Frank Endacott is still trying to persuade the Warriors to not pick up the option on him.
"It's not satisfactory for Charlie, but it's something we've got to work though and I'm not confident we can resolve it," Endacott said.
"He's on that option year and I'm trying to sort things out, but it's not happening quickly.
"Normally, if players want to leave a club they let them go.
"Charlie was on a low contract because he had to prove himself. Well he's more than proved himself, but he's not getting the salary to match his ability and what he's worth in the team."
Endacott says Gubb won't kick up a fuss and he remains passionate about the Warriors, but as his representative, Endacott says he's driven by getting the best deal possible for the player.
"Charlie wants to stay at the Warriors, but with what he's on, it's a joke to be fair," he said.
"People talk about how much players get, but Charlie's on the other side of that.
"When we signed that contract it was OK, because it was all about opportunities, but the thing is he's played his part but nothing is happen."
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/leagu...se-to-let-Charlie-Gubb-leave-for-better-offer
