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.
Marnz
Guest
I still think he'd be a great buy and would add to the depth at the Warriors. He looks the goods and made a crucial break late in Friday nights game against the Roosters with Ben Hunt a few tackles later laying on the final pass for the match winning try to Corey Oates. Impressive with the limited minutes he is playing.
Sylvester
Guest
Not sure Tui's the right kind of player to partner Johnson. He needs a steady hand, which is why he's played his best when partnered with the likes of Maloney and Foran.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Marnz Loli will be the 6
The Barry
Roar Guru
Did you bang on about Luke's loyalty when souths signed him from the bulldogs?
The Barry
Roar Guru
Scott - did you just credit yourself for asking a good question ?
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
The Warriors salary cap is in New Zealand dollars Jay C
Jay C
Roar Guru
I'm pretty sure GI was doin' alright before he moved to Souths.
Jay C
Roar Guru
So, there's just no salary cap in NZ?
Steve
Guest
Isaac has been loyal and a great servant to the Rabbitohs....I wish him well at the warriors. However, as great as he is there are aspects of his game that aren't the best. His service from dummy half for instance I have always though needed improving...also he tends to get suspended quite a lot. Cam Mcinness will come in next year and bring something different to the side. Its not the end of the world.
TheSmak
Guest
What about the storm, they've had their big 3 forever while simultaneously fending off rival bids from other clubs.
Marnz
Guest
If the rumours are true that Chad Townsend is leaving next year and also Sam Rapira,Sam Tomkins,maybe Nathan Friend and a few others. They should try and poach Brisbane Broncos utility Kodi Nikorima to play alongside Johnson in the halves. It seems a no brainer considering he can also play fullback, hooker which is a bonus. With is contract to run out at the seasons end I'd be targetting him next. He's young, wouldn't cost as much as a top tier half and also donesn't mind getting his shoulder behind some of the big boppers that a running around the NRL today. Has an x factor about him and think he has genuine potential to be a player of the future and this is shown how he was with the extended Kiwis team for the ANZAC test.
steveng
Roar Rookie
I've been a South Sydney Rabbitohs fan for over 55 years, and I will be a South Sydney Rabbitohs fan till I die. There are no other teams that I could follow or support, the Cardinal Red and the Myrtle Green is in my blood, that is the culture of the fans and that is (and should be) the culture that most players were taught and played for in the old days at Souths. Today, unfortunately, its all about money. And this started at Souths when the great Ron Coote left in 1972 (he was with Souths from 1964-71) and went to the Roosters, which was a great shock and I thought a very sad day at Souths. Very similar to Issac Luke. Never mind, we can still do it back to back, if there is still that spirit there from last year? Go the Bunnies.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Massive coup by Jim Doyle and the Warriors, did I say MASSIVE? I have a couple of questions? 1. Why would Souths allow Luke to go? A: Maybe to pay for Sam Burgess and maintain Johnston 2. Do we have a conflict of interest as Jim Doyle used to be in charge of the NRL Salary Cap and would know every detail of every player giving him a head start in negotiations? A: Good question
GTW
Guest
The mainstays of the Souths team have left or are leaving. It may be a long time before Souths win another premiership, and I mean more than 4 months. Luke is an absolute maniac on the football field and is as important as C. Smith is to the Storm. It makes you wonder how the Storm kept their greats together for so long, when Souths "dominance" lasted barely a year. Speaking of the Storm cheating the salary cap, I recently heard a clip of Gus Gould saying to [then NRL CEO] Gallop some years ago - "but you're punishing the players {by taking premierships off them]". Well yes, Mr Gould, I think that was the point. Personally, I wish my organisation paid me via a few different contracts and with under the table packets of cash, and I hope I get to keep it all when we're found out. The Storm players did get to keep it all too - everything except the trophies, that is. It's hard to buy another house with a trophy though.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Gee I hope I never burn bridges with you steve!
Brendan
Guest
I think Souths fans can handle Issac leaving, its more the question of timing. Why sign a contract and backflip several months later? I dont begrudge any player leaving when they are off contract but leaving at the start of a new contract is terrible. I personally blame both Issac and the Warriors here.
steveng
Roar Rookie
The Souths spirit and loyalty is 'once a Souths player always a Souths player' its been that way 'ALWAYS' and that has never ever changed. Irrespective of any perspectives and priorities, but he is a Kiwi first and he has shown that in this decision that he made. We can do without him, as was proven in the 2014 GF, no great loss.
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
Bye-bye
Con Scortis
Roar Guru
I have no issue with Isaac leaving steveng and I don't think it has anything to do with loyalty. People's perspectives and priorities change over time and I think Isaac is leaving for reasons other than disloyalty. I for one wish him the best, he has been one of our best and most consistent players for years - as well as our most loyal. Also, I don't think this is a sudden thing. Souths knew what they were doing when they let Api go and have been grooming Cameron McInnes (a good local junior) to be Luke's replacement.
Wii
Guest
He has been extremely loyal to Souths since 2007 he has dedicated the majority of what will be his professional career to the Rabittohs. The only BS I see is in your comment