Warriors announce new deals for six players

STAFF WRITERS | June 13, 2017 - 2:16pm

Experienced centre Blake Ayshford, standoff Ata Hingano, 2017 NRL rookie Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad and halfback Mason Lino have all been re-signed by the Vodafone Warriors for next season and beyond.

Their contracts have now been officially registered while promising NYC players Lewis Soosemea and Joe Vuna have also been secured on new deals.

“These are all key signings for us as we continue to work towards settling our squad for next year,” said Vodafone Warriors recruitment and development manager Tony Iro.

The 157-game veteran Ayshford (29), who scored a double in Saturday’s 34-12 win over Gold Coast, has extended his stay until the end of the 2019 season after appearing in 33 games for the Vodafone Warriors so far.

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 05: Mafoa'aeata Hingano of the Warriors makes a break during the round one NRL match between the New Zealand Warriors and the Newcastle Knights at Mt Smart Stadium on March 5, 2017 in Auckland, New Zealand. (Photo by Anthony Au-Yeung/Getty Images)

Standoff Hingano (20) will remain with the Vodafone Warriors until the end of the 2020 NRL season after signing a three-year contract. After making his NRL debut late last season, he featured in the club’s first three games this year and scored his first career try when he made his sixth first-grade appearance off the bench in Saturday’s victory over the Titans.

Utility Nicoll Klokstad (21), the club’s 2016 Intrust Super Premiership player of the year, has been re-signed on a two-year contract. He was called up for his NRL debut against the Sydney Roosters on April 30 and appeared in each of the next three games against Penrith, St George Illawarra and Brisbane, scoring doubles against the Panthers and the Dragons.

Halfback Lino (23), who captains the ISP side, has also been secured for two seasons. He was used in three NRL games at the end of the 2016 season and continues to provide back-up to the NRL squad’s halves as an integral performer for the ISP team.

Wing Soosemea (19) and second rower Vuna (18), both signed on two-year deals, have been frontline performers for the Vodafone Junior Warriors after making their debuts in the grade as 17-year-olds.

Mangere East Hawks junior Soosemea has made 45 NYC appearances since 2015 scoring 25 tries including nine in 13 games this season. He also made his ISP debut last year and represented the Vodafone Warriors at this year’s NRL Nines as well as playing in the club’s NRL trial against Melbourne on the Sunshine Coast.

Vuna has played 36 NYC games, appearing 22 times last year and in all 14 games so far this season. He was also in the NRL Nines squad in February.

While announcing the re-signings, Iro also confirmed off-contract prop Toafofoa Sipley has decided to continue his career in Sydney after this season.

“We were keen for Toaf to stay and made a good offer but it hasn’t been enough to keep him here,” he said.

“While it’s disappointing to lose players who come through our system, we wish Toaf all the best.”

After playing for the club’s NYC and Intrust Super Premiership sides, Sipley graduated to make two NRL appearances last year.