NRL: Fitness-freak Friend is the sole arrival

Nathan Friend. Photo / Getty Images

The biggest sign of change at the Warriors this season can be seen in what the club didn't do during the off-season - namely pad the ranks with a bunch of journeyman Australians.

Despite a high churn rate at the end of last year that saw seven experienced first-graders depart, the club made just one splash on the player market, bringing in Nathan Friend.

Other than the classy former Titans, Storm and Broncos hooker, the Warriors have promoted from within, turning to a youth development system that has proved the most productive in the game.

Of the graduates from last year's champion Toyota Cup side, boom centre Konrad Hurrell and carefully groomed back rower Ben Henry are expected to make their first-grade debuts on Sunday.

Carlos Tuimavave is a five-eighths who can fill in at centre, while back rowers Sebastine Ikahihifo and Sio Siua Taukeiaho could also be in the mix later in the season. Sophomore talents Glen Fisiiahi, Pita Godinet and Alehana Mara are all banging on the door for a call-up if injuries or poor form allow.

With just five Aussies on the books and all of them first-choice players when fit, the Warriors are banking on their young Kiwi talent doing the job. That said, the club's lone Australian acquisition could prove the most valuable. A tireless worker, Friend is certainly an upgrade on Aaron Heremaia.

Although he turned 31 on Tuesday and missed most of last season following two shoulder surgeries - the first of which was bungled - Friend expects to be back at peak form this season. If he is, and can sustain it, the Warriors have landed the player that played a crucial role in the Titans coming within a game of the grand final in 2010.

"I came over here full of running," Friend said.

"It's nice to get the footy in the hand and play among these guys. There are some supreme athletes around me so I look forward to what the year holds."

A former bricklayer from Toowoomba, Friend made it to the NRL the hard way. A typical day used to involve working from early morning followed by a drive into the big smoke of Brisbane for footy training.

"That kind of stuff ingrains in you and makes you more resilient to hard times," he said.

"It's a grounding I wouldn't pass up."

While he played just one first grade game for the Broncos, he did earn a contract with Melbourne where he spent the bulk of four seasons as understudy to Cameron Smith.

Joining the Titans as a foundation player in 2007 allowed Friend to finally emerge from Smith's shadow.

He notched 100 games for the Titans, earning a reputation as one of the game's premier rakes in the process.

So far, he likes what he sees at the Warriors, particularly from the younger players on whom the club will depend so heavily this season.

"The guys over here are not ahead of themselves. They're there every day trying to improve their game. They don't think they've made it, which is what you need in a culture at a club. You can't be thinking you're all that when you've just made the grade.

"I have no worries if anything happens to any more players. They'll just slot straight in."

While his absence for the bulk of the season absolves Friend of any responsibility, he bristles slightly at the suggestion that the collapse of the Titans from contender to wooden spoon holder last season could be linked to the presence of too many ageing players. A stagnant environment that started with the coaches was the major issue, he said.

"If they have a bad game they say it's the age, they just look for something to blame.

"The issue could be a little bit deeper, you just don't know. You can't just be happy with where you're at.

"You've always got to have that continual improvement and the boys here are doing that, so I have no concerns about how we'll go this year."