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Rugby League

Veteran Rauhihi wins Wolves backing

04/09/2007

Warrington have offered former New Zealand international Paul Rauhihi a year's extension to his deal at the Halliwell Jones Stadium after his impressive second term at the club.

Although he only made 14 appearances in an injury-hit debut season, the 34-year-old prop has missed just one Super league match so far this time around and convinced coach Paul Cullen that he is worthy of a continued place in the Wolves set-up.

"He will provide us with that experience and guile we think we're going to need next year. We feel he's got at least one more year left in him," said Cullen.

"He overcame a very serious back injury which stole his first season but he's been relatively injury free for the vast majority of this year. We feel he has a role to play, both on and off the field."

Should a suspension against him be upheld, the former North Queensland stalwart will miss his second match of the season against leaders St Helens on Friday evening and his absence may lead to Cullen promoting more of the club's youngsters to the first team squad.

Academy forward Matty Blythe has already been called up to replace injured prop Paul Wood and may well follow another 18-year-old, Lee Mitchell, into the starting line-up.

"We're at the stage where the body blows are landing and they're hurting us. A lot of our younger players are getting decent game time and hopefully they will benefit from it," said Cullen.