Vuna extends Knights deal Cooper coup
By BRETT KEEBLE
A HOMECOMING visit for his parents' blessing reassured Tongan torpedo Cooper Vuna he was doing the right thing by staying at the Newcastle Knights.
The explosive left winger, who joined the Knights from the New Zealand Warriors midway through last season, has agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension and said he would put pen to paper this week.
The deal was almost over the line last month but negotiations stalled, and even as late as Friday Knights football staff held concerns that it could fall through.
But the 20-year-old shook hands with coach Brian Smith and operations manager Warren Smiles after both men met his parents, John and Ane, during the team's trip to Auckland at the weekend.
Vuna said he and his partner Necia and their nine-month-old son Lincoln were keen to buy a house and establish a permanent base in Newcastle.
"Growing up as a little kid, I always had my parents there for me as my guardians, so I wanted to get them involved so they knew what was going on with contracts and that sort of stuff," Vuna said.
"He [Smith] left it up to me, but he said to go and talk to my parents if I wanted to.
"Coach met them and Smilesy met them at the weekend, and they're all happy with it, so it's sweet.
"My head was really in one place. I tried to stay loyal to one team instead of moving from one place to another, so it's a good thing that the Knights wanted me for another two years. Me and the missus have got some plans for the future.
"We thought it would be good to stay in one place and maybe try to buy a house.
"Now that the contract is out of the way, I can focus on footy and prepare for a big year."
The Knights were pipped 26-20 by the Warriors at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday, missing out on two precious premiership points, but Smith believed securing Vuna's services for two more years was a valuable investment in the club's future wealth.
Smith said that Vuna had a good chance of representing Tonga or New Zealand in the World Cup this year if he continued to improve.
"Coops has been a bit of a success story among our younger boys," Smith said.
"He took a big step by coming over here last year, and he's taken that first part of his assignment very well. He's made himself into a first-grader, and I know he's got aspirations to go further and play rep footy.
"He's got all the raw ingredients for that because he's got speed and he's a big strong fella. Now it's up to him to keep working on his game and improving."
Vuna's retention comes two months after the Knights re-signed right winger James McManus until the end of 2011.
Cross, MacDougall back to bolster Knights, Page 60