League: Warriors' grand designs

Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon shows some of his ink. Photo / Herald on Sunday

The Warriors are expected to be among the contenders for the NRL title in 2009.

As Herald on Sunday photographer Doug Sherring found, however, a lot of them have already made their mark – in permanent ink.

Evarn Tuimavave (prop)

Tuimavave has a tattoo on the back of his neck and his right calf but it is the one on his right arm that is most distinctive.

Wrapped around his mum's name and his family name is a design from Samoa, where his father comes from.

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Wade McKinnon (fullback)

McKinnon's first foray into permanent ink came as a teenager with the name of his then-girlfriend but that has well and truly been overtaken by his name and his sister's name as well as a collection of images from around the world – the globe, pyramids, Great Wall of China, Sydney Harbour Bridge, Rio de Janeiro and Buddhism.

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Nathan Fien (halfback)

The Mt Isa-born Kiwi probably has the most geographical area covered of any Warrior. His entire right arm is devoted to an Eastern theme and half of his left to the American West.

"They are just checkpoints of where I have come from and who I am."

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Jesse Royal (prop)

The former Newcastle coal miner has a virtual family tree on his back and right arm, with one area dedicated to his wife and kids and another to his parents.

"It's about my family, my kids and my journey through life."

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Mataupu Poching (prop)

The 21-year-old who is expected to make his NRL debut this year had his right arm tattooed in November in a Samoan 'sleeve'.

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Denan Kemp (winger)

The 22-year-old winger has some words written in Greek emblazoned on his back but wouldn't divulge what they meant.

"It represents what I believe in, the way I want to live my life and what's important to me."