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The Warriors have continued their recent trend of signing of quality players mid-season, snapping up South Sydney hooker Issac Luke on a three-year deal.
Luke was granted a release by the Rabbitohs for the final two years of his deal with the red and green, to join the NRL club based in his home country of New Zealand.
27-year-old Luke said moving home was a big factor in his decision to leave the Rabbitohs.
“I’ve been away from home for a long time now and I really miss it,” Luke said.
“I’ve loved playing for the Rabbitohs. They’ve done so much for me but I wanted to go back to New Zealand at some stage and I’m grateful they’ve allowed me to go.
“Going home to play for the Warriors has always been something I wanted to do. I know so many of the boys there and I also like what’s happening at the club since Jim [Doyle, club CEO] has taken over.”
Luke insisted he still has more to give in his final season at South Sydney, stating “I want to let our Members and fans know that I will be playing as hard as I can for South Sydney this year even though I am moving on at the end of the year.”
Luke follows fellow Kiwi international and star player at a high profile Sydney club Roger Tuivasa-Sheck in moving to the Warriors next season.
Doyle said Luke’s signing was one of the most significant in the club’s history.
“On top of signing Roger as well, it’s a fantastic coup for us to secure Issac,” he said.
“We are always looking to bring elite players to our club and in Issac we have signed one of the very best there is.”
Warriors head coach Andrew McFadden was delighted with the signing.
“His arrival at the club will provide a massive lift to our side,” he said.
“With the game getting faster and the prospect of the number of interchanges being reduced, 80-minute hookers have become a real asset. Issac is an exceptional dummy half and he underlined that for the Kiwis in the Anzac Test against the Kangaroos. He was outstanding.
“It’s hugely exciting for us knowing Issac and Roger will on board next year.”
South Sydney head coach Michael Maguire said that Luke had been “a key part of this squad for many years now and I’m certain that he will be doing everything in his power to make sure his final season in the red and green is a successful one.
“He assures me that he has a number of goals he still wants to achieve at South Sydney and he and his team mates will be working hard to achieve those goals.
“We will bid him farewell at the end of the year, but for now Issac is still very much part of this team and this Club and we’ll cherish having him as part of our squad for the remainder of 2015.”
Luke has played 174 games for South Sydney since joining the club in 2007, and was a member of the Rabbitohs’ drought-breaking 2014 premiership win. He has also played in 35 representative matches for his home nation of New Zealand.
He shapes as a likely replacement at New Zealand for ageing hooker Nathan Friend. The 34-year-old veteran signed a one-year contract in 2014 that expires at the end of this season.
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