KEY POINTS:
Ian Henderson is a cocky bloke - likeable, with a ready smile and a solid belief in his own abilities as a professional league player.
Asked what he thought he would bring to the team, the new hooker looks around at his teammates at Warriors training and says:
"All these blokes are going to give me heaps when I say this, but yeah, I do think I have something extra to offer them. I have my own style and it's a little bit unorthodox. I can bring another dimension. I believe I have got the game-breaking plays."
The 24-year-old Henderson will take up the dummy-half interchange role previously filled by the 30-year-old George Gatis. He is slightly bigger than Gatis and a bit quicker off the mark according to the coaching staff. He's on a two-year contract but if that works out well for both parties he clearly has the opportunity to stay on as Nathan Fien, at 28, moves on towards the tail of his career.
Henderson says he relies on strength and power a lot and they'll be valuable assets in and around the NRL ruck.
His family moved from England to Sydney when he was 8 and he started his league career in Campbelltown. He was picked up by the Roosters in 2003 and played seven games for them over two seasons. "That's where the association with the Warriors came from, through [former Roosters assistant coach] Ivan Cleary," he says.
In 2005 Henderson was at the Eels, behind P.J. Marsh, when the club signed Mark Riddell. With his immediate playing prospects stymied, he signed for the Bradford Bulls in Super League.
He was an instant hit back in the land of his birth and played 70 games over a season and a half.
But a desire to return to the NRL brought Henderson south again to a contract with the Warriors. "Growing up in Australia, the NRL was always the goal. I have always seen it as the peak in the game and I want to challenge myself. I also wanted the opportunity to get more game time."
Then there's the better lifestyle. Henderson's parents are now living at Terrigal on the Central Coast north of Sydney. He's a keen surfer and snowboarder, though the latter is now on hold.
He's finding the Warriors a fun team, the players hard-working and intense at training, relaxed and inclusive away from it. Pre-season has been much as it would be with Super League sides. "Maybe there are a few more fitness sessions." The run at Bethells Beach he remembers well: "There is no easy part of a two-hour session on the dunes at Bethells."
Henderson's father is Scottish and last year he was called up to the national side, along with brothers Kevin (28) and Andy (27) who are at Castleford and Wakefield Trinity respectively. The trio hope to play together in this year's World Cup.
All Warriors squad members are in full training now, all injury rehab successful. They have picked up a giant in former St Paul's College player Toleafoa Leaupepe, who is unfortunately just weeks over the age limit for the new under-20s side. He is training with the top team along with other prospects who will appear for the Auckland Lions.
* IAN HENDERSON
Born 23/4/1983 in Torquay, England
Raised in Australia from age 8, where he played for Campbelltown juniors
175cm 92kg hooker
Roosters 2003-04, 7 games, 1 try
Eels to 2004-2005 0 games
Bradford Bulls mid-2006-07 70 games
