League: New Aussie signing for Warriors

Sydney Roosters utility back Aidan Kirk has joined National Rugby League team, the New Zealand Warriors, on a two-year contract.

Yet to make his first-grade debut, Gosford-born Kirk, 20, has been a regular in the club's successful premier league side, lining up in their grand final appearances in 2004 and 2005.

He will move to Auckland at the end of the 2006 season, joining former teammate Grant Rovelli, who left the Roosters after three years in premier league to make his first-grade breakthrough with the Warriors this year.

Kirk already has first-hand experience of working with Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary, who guided the Roosters' 2004 premier league side to grand final success.

"We need to build up our depth in a lot of positions and Aidan's versatility will help us to do that," Cleary said today.

"He has probably been unlucky not to play first-grade by now but, as Grant (Rovelli) showed by moving here this year, he'll have a chance to do that at the Warriors."

Kirk, at 1.80m and 91kg, is able to play most positions in the backline from standoff through to fullback.

Cleary reiterated the Warriors' long-term commitment to becoming a development club.

"We have noticed the comments (Kiwis coach) Brian McClennan has made about the lack of depth in so many positions in New Zealand rugby league," Cleary said.

"It's an issue we are addressing at the Warriors. We have signed young locally-based players who have the potential to develop into first-graders but that won't happen straightaway.

"So, in the meantime, we will still need to recruit players in key areas to provide depth that's not there right now in the New Zealand game."

- NZPA