KEY POINTS:
Sometimes the best signings are the ones retaining players and this was achieved by the Warriors last night when they re-signed Steve Price and Wade McKinnon to contract extensions.
Price has re-signed for another year, while McKinnon, who was not off contract until the end of 2009, has signed for another two years to the end of 2011.
They are the club's two best players and have been sorely missed this season, with Price returning from a torn hamstring only last weekend and McKinnon out long-term with a serious knee injury.
Price had been widely expected to sign for another season but the club wanted to see whether he could regain fitness before committing. The deal was effectively done less than 24 hours after he came through last Sunday's match with the Roosters.
"I'm so pleased to have another year with the Warriors," he said. "It was a great move for our family to come to Auckland [in 2005] and I'm excited about being able to add another season on to my time with the club. It's a real boost after coming back from injury last week."
McKinnon proved one of the buys of last season with his smooth and dangerous running from fullback and the Warriors moved to stave off any interest from rival clubs by extending his contract well before his present deal expires.
They sought assurances the 27-year-old's knee injury wouldn't cause problems in the future and there is optimism his recovery is going so well he will return a handful of games before the end of the season.
"It's every club's aim to sign top players in each position and we clearly have two in Steve and Wade," Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said. "Steve is one of the top props in the competition but he also has a rapport with the fans and his commercial nous is an asset. He's a great leader of this club."
Price was desperate to return to action last weekend, despite some concerns from the medical staff who would have preferred him to have had another week off, and said he would take responsibility if he re-injured his hamstring.
He was also mindful of putting himself in the frame for State of Origin selection, with the Queensland side for the must-win second game to be named on Tuesday.
The re-signing of Price and McKinnon follows that of Brisbane's Denan Kemp, who will join for two seasons from 2009.
The 21-year-old winger-fullback marked his signing by scoring four tries in his side's 30-26 win over the Eels on Friday night and he now has nine tries in nine matches this year.
Scurrah said fans would be "pleasantly surprised" with recruitment plans and indicated they weren't far away from making more announcements.
"We have done an honest account of where we are," Scurrah said. "We are like fans and are committed to putting out a winning side on the field. We are not happy with how things are going and are committed to fixing it."
There is room for movement, with Ruben Wiki, Wairangi Koopu, Michael Crockett, Aidan Kirk, Ryan Shortland and Logan Swann all off contract. None are likely to figure highly in the club's plans.
