To be fair why would he want to be part of our shambles at the minute. I wouldn't want to turn out and put my career and reputation on the line under our coaching regime at the minute. They're making good players look dire and average players look like total amateurs.

Honestly I would clear out every coach at the club and start again, we need to remove the comfort zone that seems to have been created.

Peed off that we haven't got a song for him. He's at the wrong for that now. Sick of hearing der der der and wire wire wire.

Just spoken to karl fitzpatrick at statue its true he is being released END OF.

Fair enough if that's your view, but why is that on this thread? Anyone thinking that Hiku leaving is anything to do with our coaching team is surely deluded: there are much bigger issues in SL than whether Smith and Agar are in charge of the Wire!

Indeed this is a SL issue as stated by paul youane. These clauses have to be put in contracts...bet your life barba has got one. There is only ONE way around this and that is to make the competition more lucrative and desirable to play in (as the weather isnt going to get em here)....and we do that by scrapping the salary cap. There is no other option....only mediocrity and decline.

We can't sign players offering the biggest wages in the league and we can't find the rare gems that go under the radar.

So. What is our plan. We're a shambles at the moment. If Karl HAS said he is gone to those at game but won't confirm it to the Warrington Guardian, he's a shambles too and we may as well play an academy player in his position.

That's it i'm done with the wire now save my money and get more enjoyment watching my son play for woolston rovers in the ncl more honest and a very good standard of rugby league

Not sure why some are questioning WHY he's off? We're fighting relegation in a 2nd rate League on the other side of the planet and he's been offered 3 years in the sports premier league at the Warriors back home.... no brainer.

The Lomax rumour now makes some sense.

Wire till i die?

I guess he died, but then again its enough to kill anyone

Warrington Guardian confirm Hiku is leaving. Smith and Hiku due in the press conference post match.

2018 Season
IN: Sitaleki Akauola (Penrith Panthers)
OUT: Rhys Evan (Leigh Centurions), Kurt Gidley (Retired), Andre Savelio (Brisbane Broncos), Brad Dwyer (Leeds Rhinos), Sam Wilde (Widnes Vikings), Peta Hiku (New Zealand Warriors).

Anyone still got their boots?

We wouldn't have won without him today... head and shoulders above everyone else on the field.

I can look see Pomeroy doing a "wheeler" (ie earning a new contract based on performances, despite never playing due to injury)

He's off because he's got family issues and wants to go home. No other reason. He knew what he was signing up for, as we were pretty much guaranteed to be in a 'second rate league' and 'fighting relegation' when he agreed to come over.

Plenty of other things to moan about and slag the club off about but Hiku wanting out isn't one of them as it's totally out of their control.

Something really doesn't sit right on this. Smacks of a cover up. Kind words to fans in exchange for no hassle release.

Sorry but nothing has changed since he's been here in terms of our or his own situation.

Very odd.

If it is family reasons then fair enough, being apart from family is hard for some people. But surely before you sign up for a couple of years on he other side of the world then before putting pen to paper wouldn't things like that be discussed?

I wouldn't just up and go and hope that my family follow.

Precisely. Not like he was a free agent looking for a club. Then I could understand.

No idea what his family issues are, and no real reason for it to be divulged.

However, I do wonder whether this is something that couldn't be sorted out during the close season, and its disappointing that it had to come out now.

Perhaps after the Sandow situation the club would rather make the break with the player now, rather than risk it again at the dawn of the new season.

It is odd.

In the WG he says he wants to be closer to his wife and son and extended family. Perfectly understandable. I presume they are in Australia when he played for Penrith as he mentions New Zealand is OK because "he has a daughter there". Auckland is 1,500 miles from Penrith.

I suspect the NZ Warriors came in with an offer based on his recent form triggering the clause and the family thing is what the club tell the plebs like us.

Not slagging anyone off. Stating the facts. He can cite family reasons and I don't dispute their truth. It's fair enough. But even if that weren't the case my OP would be good enough reason anyway.

In any event, our club seem to be poor with their media strategy. In every case it's always after the horse has bolted and we know the details from our antipodean press in advance.

Watched him today for the first time.
Seemed to have a bit of fizz about him
Can only improve the NZ Warriors

So with Hiku going, thats a centre needed seeing as he replaced Evans there. Still think we would be better served putting Ratch there and buying a top full back but then again we need half a new team for next year so anything can happen