NRL: Invest more money, Tate warns Warriors

Brent Tate says he loved every minute of his time at the Warriors. Photo / Getty Images

Brent Tate believes the Warriors need to invest more money if they are to become one of the top clubs in the NRL.

The 28-year-old's Warriors career is drawing to a close. Next season Tate will take up a reported three-year $750,000 contract with the North Queensland Cowboys.

It was a difficult decision to leave the Warriors and he will be genuinely sad when it ends. The biggest factor was a desire to set himself up for life after rugby league and establish some good contacts in Australia, where he intends to retire.

But Tate is adamant the Warriors need to open their chequebook wider if they are to remain competitive.

"I think resources-wise, we need to be better. I know we are behind other clubs in terms of facilities and what they are able to do in things like recovery methods. You look at all those other clubs and the facilities they have and the methods they are using, it's a real science now."

"I am aware it costs money. It's a tough business. But at some stage you have to bite the bullet and give the guys a chance by being on a level playing field."

Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah agrees. The club identified this area during their extensive review recently and have attempted to make improvements.

But it's not that easy. The Warriors' turnover is close to $17 million and they stand to make a loss this year. They rarely make a profit but can come close to breaking even with good crowds, as they did in 2008.

Brisbane's revenue is about A$25 million ($32 million) and many Sydney clubs are boosted by grants of around A$4 million from leagues clubs.

"That's money we have to find," Scurrah says. "We are improving in those areas, but it all costs money. It's warfare in terms of sports science. It's about having swimming pools on site and things like hydra-therapy, nutrition, blood counts...

"Clubs are trying to squeeze every last ounce out of someone's body and it's the little one per centers at the end that could be the difference between making the top eight or winning the grand final."

"It would be great to throw another $1 million at these things. Some of our future decisions will be around things that can help us get the best possible facilities."

Tate feels a sense of guilt. A lot of players are happy to take the money and run, paying lip service to their former team before slipping comfortably into the next jersey.

But Tate feels he's letting his team-mates down by joining the Cowboys rather than staying at Mt Smart. He's an emotional beast, both on and off the field - he's indiscreet with the fist-pumps, barking of orders, high fives and remonstrations - and he was close to tears when talking about missing 2009 because of another knee injury.

This emotion goes a long way to explaining what makes Tate such a good player. He is immensely competitive and it rubs off on those around him. It's doubtful the Warriors would have been as successful without him and it's no coincidence they struggled in 2009 when the centre missed most of the season with a knee injury.

"I have been looking around a bit more and soaking it all in," he says. "There are times when I'm out training when I think, 'this is going to be one of the last sessions I'm going to be at'.

"It hasn't changed the way I play. I said a couple of weeks ago that it would make me hungrier but that's never been a problem for me."

There's still one thing he wants to do before he goes. It's what everyone at Mt Smart Stadium wants - a first NRL title - and there's a feeling they can at least replicate what they did in 2008 when they were beaten one game short of the grand final.

"I'm hoping the highlights are still to come," he says. "Our performances this year, and making the semis, has been a highlight - especially after the year we had last year and the critics we had. I have been really happy how we have bounced back.

"I look back on my time here with some really fond memories. It was a huge decision for us to come over, leaving a big club like Brisbane to a club on the rise. It's been a really, really enjoyable three years. I have loved every minute of it.

"If it had been a different stage of my career, I wouldn't want to go anywhere else. I have loved it so much. That's why it was such a hard decision, but sometimes you need to make that call."