KEY POINTS:
The Warriors are keeping new fullback Aidan Kirk under wraps for his NRL debut against the Storm in Melbourne on Monday.
But away from the spotlight, those around him are confident the rookie has the goods to fill in for injured Wade McKinnon.
The question is, will the Aussie bookmakers slide the Warriors' odds of winning the NRL out still further if Kirk does not impress against the Storm, or shorten the odds if he turns in a brilliant performance and shapes as a capable replacement for the injured McKinnon?
Certainly the Warriors are a much better chance in Melbourne than is suggested by the TAB's price of $3.50, the longest odds for the eight games of the opening round of the NRL.
In fact the Warriors were the last team to beat the Storm in Melbourne, in August 2006. They have won 31 of their past 32 home games.
Warriors skipper Steve Price was riled by the down-grading of the whole team's chances because of the loss of one man, with headlines about the "Wadeless Warriors".
One man did not make a football team, Price said. Sure, a star player always helped, but now others had to step up.
Price has confidence in the squad and is pleased with the developing experience. Many players are now in the 50-100 game bracket or past that significant mark.
He's also happy with Kirk's preparation and performance in training and has confidence in him to make a good fist of the job.
"He's excited, he's nervous, but I'd be worried if he wasn't nervous. I remember what it was like when I got my first chance."
Graeme Norton, former Kiwis assistant coach and Auckland Lions coach, had nothing but positive things to say about Kirk.
He was physically strong and good on both attack and defence. "He's very good in the tackle. Ball in hand, he has a real strength on attack. We used him mostly as a centre because he gave us so much punch from there," Norton said.
Kirk played 15 games for the Lions at centre or in his preferred position as fullback. He read the high ball well, had plenty of speed, provided good kick-return and had a good vision to time his run into the attack.
Kirk suffered a knee tear playing for the Roosters in the 2006 New South Wales Premier League grand final. That kept him out of the early part of 2007 but he later became a regular for the Auckland Lions.
The Warriors captain has no worries about drawing the defending titleholders away first game and thinks it might be the best time to get them. Price remembers when the Bulldogs were regulars in the playoffs.
"Teams would come very motivated to beat us, they had an extra month off, they had new buys and often they would get us because we wouldn't be at our best."
Coach Ivan Cleary said there would be no special instructions to Kirk - he wants the 22-year-old to play his debut as any other game. Nor would there be a change to the team game plan.
McKinnon was a lonely figure at training this week, walking the running track with iPod on.
Surgery on his left knee was successful and it felt good, he said. "All I can do right now is bike and walk around the track," he said, looking forward to running in two months, then a return to contact training.
He said he still felt a part of the place, admitting it was already tough to watch and would be worse on game-day.
* AIDAN KIRK
Born: March 16, 1986, Sydney
Junior club: St Edward's
Position: Fullback/centre
Height: 1.81m
Weight: 90kg
First grade debut
