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Pita Godinet
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OFF TO UK: Hooker Pita Godinet has left the Warriors and signed to Super League club Wakefield Trinity.
League

Hooker Pita Godinet has left the Warriors and signed to Super League club Wakefield Trinity.

The 25-year-old, who played for Samoa at the World Cup and appeared for the Warriors on 10 occasions last season, has been given a release from the club.

All of Godinet's games for the Warriors this year came in the first half of the season and he spent the back end of the campaign languishing in the reserve grade Auckland Vulcans side.

Wakefield coach Richard Agar, who coached France at the World Cup, said he intends to use the 25-year-old at either hooker or in the halves.

"He is a skilful player and I think he will make a big impact. He will also give us cover at six or nine," Agar said.

"Half-backs are at a premium and it is a difficult time of the season to try and sign new players so I am delighted we have signed him and I certainly think he will add something to our squad."

Agar said the club had been trying to sign Godinet for some time.

"Our first enquiry was rebuffed but I think Pita realised that it would be a tremendous opportunity to play in Super League and become an important player for us."

The Warriors had an option on Godinet's contract for next season and back in June Warriors coach Matt Elliott told Fairfax Media that they would be taking it up for 2014.

"All of the options that we're going to take up have been taken up. Pita is here next year," Elliott said at the time.

However, the change of plan may have been caused by the club's change of heart over Nathan Friend.

The Warriors initially didn't take up their option on the veteran hooker and it looked like he was going to move on, but just before the end of the season they offered him a new deal.

With Friend, Thomas Leuluai and the highly promising Siliva Havili all potentially wearing the No 9 jersey at the club next season, it's unlikely Godinet would have got much game time and he had also stated to Fairfax Media this year that he was willing to move away from Auckland to play first grade footy.