The departing South Sydney hooker Isaac Luke admits he's been thinking about a return to New Zealand since last year's Four Nations rugby league tournament.
The Kiwi international shocked team-mates when he told the Premiers he was leaving the club at the end of the NRL season to take up a three-year deal with the Auckland-based Warriors.
Isaac Luke has confirmed he's joining the Warriors. Photo: Photosport
Luke said a burning desire to play in front of his father George was the primary reason for asking Souths coach Michael Maguire for a release from the final two years of his contract with the Rabbitohs.
"Madge is very passionate. He's put a lot of time into me in becoming the man I am today and I thank Madge for that," Luke said.
"But in the same sentence he doesn't want to stand in the way of me going home to my family and I'm very happy he's done that.
"It's something I've been thinking about since the Four Nations. The opportunity to be able to play in front of my family and to be with them as well was on my mind.
"Obviously the last month I haven't been playing the best as I can and that's what's been sitting on my shoulders."
Luke admitted he also felt sad to be leaving the Rabbitohs after 11 years at Redfern.
"I've been at the club for a while and now I get to go home.
Luke's signing follows that of Sydney Roosters star Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, who last month agreed to a three-year deal at the Warriors, starting in 2015.
Luke, has played 33 Tests for New Zealand and is a senior member of the Kiwis team and leading the haka before and after last Sunday's Test win in Brisbane.
A member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2008 World Cup and the 2010 and 2014 Four Nations tournaments, Luke was also named the No.1 hooker in the world in 2013 when awarded the Rugby League International Federation hooker of the year award.
Meanwhile the Warriors CEO Jim Doyle's also confirmed that Australian playmaker Chad Townsend is set to leave Auckland to return to Sydney next year.
Townsend's partner's mother is very sick so the Warriors are happy to release the five-eighth, and the club's working with his manager and a couple of potential NRL rivals that are looking to sign him.
