KEY POINTS:
The Warriors have made a big play in the transfer market, signing Broncos wing/centre and current test star Brent Tate to a three-year deal thought to be worth $400,000 a season.
He brings experience at the highest level in NRL finals and representative football, a line-breaking ability, solid
defence and flat-out pace - he is likely to be the fastest Warrior in 2008.
Tate, 25, said he had studied the Warriors' roster before agreeing terms because he wanted to retain his test and State of Origin jerseys.
"I wouldn't be going over if I didn't think the team was going places," he said. "I'm the type of player who wants to play finals football. I want to keep playing rep football and you have to be in a good team to do that."
Tate said he was also impressed by the Warriors' management. After long negotiations he agreed terms over the phone on Monday night and settled details yesterday.
"I felt a huge weight come off my shoulders."
Tate's deal will leave the club with little left under the A$4 million ($4.5 million) salary cap to attract any other big names, once the annual upgrades of juniors who are proving themselves is also completed, because most of the squad has already agreed terms for 2008 and beyond.
But he will fill a hole at the Warriors, who lack an attacking centre.
Of the current centres Simon Mannering will end up in the second row, Lance Hohaia is a half/hooker who is too small for midfield these days and Tony Martin is one of a very few players off-contract. Martin had asked for a one-year deal, he and the club yet to negotiate anything further.
The only other Warriors players off-contract are wing Todd Byrne and hooker George Gatis.
Corey Lawrie is on a one-year deal and Louis Anderson has already stated he is going to Super League to play with brother Vinnie.
So any further moves in the market would probably require the release of Byrne, Gatis and Lawrie and possibly others, a la last week's departure of wing Cooper Vuna to Newcastle.
Tate's Warriors deal is far better than anything Brisbane could offer, given they also have to negotiate with other test and Origin regulars Justin Hodges, Petero Civoniceva and Shaun Berrigan plus Kiwi Greg Eastwood and others.
The Warriors apparently beat offers from Penrith and Super League, after a bid from Australian rugby fell by the wayside when the IRB ruled that Tate could not continue to wear the brace he has used for two seasons following neck injury.
But it's more than money that has lured Tate.
Warriors skipper Steve Price is married to Tate's sister Jo while his wife Lani, who was born in Australia, has a Maori mother with relatives here.
"We're excited about the shift," Tate said. "Steve and Jo and Lani's family will soften the landing and show us around. We felt we needed a change and a whole change of lifestyle will be good."
Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said they needed a high-quality centre and Tate had "a real hunger for the try line".
"He'll be a huge influence on our young centres and wingers. They'll be able to learn so much from him."
