NRL: McKinnon signs up with Wests Tigers

Wade McKinnon will be remembered for his 2007 campaign with the Warriors. Photo / Greg Bowker

Wade McKinnon's Warriors career is over.

The fullback has been granted a release from his contract - which was to run until the end of 2011 - and has joined Wests Tigers with immediate effect.

The terms of his release prevent McKinnon from facing his former club when the two teams meet on Friday night.

McKinnon's departure comes following the loss of his regular fullback spot to Lance Hohaia. McKinnon made two starts this season but was largely used off the bench. He was dropped to New South Wales Premier League side Auckland Vulcans following the round seven defeat by Melbourne Storm and eventually sought a release.

"We were committed to Wade staying with us for the rest of his contract but he wants to play first-grade football regularly and recently he hasn't been able to do that here," Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said.

"Wade has made a great contribution to the club since joining us for the 2007 season and we appreciate the effort he has put in. But given the request for the release, the fact he hasn't been playing for the Warriors recently and the opportunity he has with Wests Tigers, we have agreed to give him the opportunity to move on earlier than planned."

McKinnon played 54 matches for the club. He will be remembered for his sparkling 2007 campaign - when he scored a try rated the best of the season by NRL.com - and for a spiky temperament that saw him cop several bans over stoushes with officials, including one for spitting at touch judge Brett Suttor.

However, a serious knee injury wrecked his 2008 season. He returned late in the season but never recaptured his 2007 form.

"It's sad leaving," McKinnon said. "I've loved my time here with the players, the staff and also living in Auckland but I have a real desire to play a lot more first-grade football."

Coach Ivan Cleary said McKinnon would always hold a special place in the club's history.

"His form when he first arrived in 2007 was exceptional and I can honestly say I haven't seen a better try live at a ground than the one Wade scored against Penrith that year. It was unbelievable," Cleary said.

"The thing about Wade is that he always gave you everything he had when he played. I hope everything turns out well for him in the future."

Meanwhile, Scurrah confirmed Sonny Bill Williams' agent Khoder Nasser did not visit the club during his trip to Auckland. Nasser was in town checking out potential rugby homes for his superstar client, who is considering returning to New Zealand.

The Warriors baulked at attempting to sign Williams once it became apparent his former Bulldogs club would enforce a clause in his contract break that would force another NRL club to pay them more than A$1 million ($1.2 million) in compensation.

"It became plain to us it was going to be too painful to get Sonny across the line at this point," Scurrah said.

"There was no way we were going to give one of our competitors a million bucks."

The club appears no closer to re-signing star centre Brent Tate, rating the chances of the Queenslander staying at the club 50/50.

"We are still in the running, so nothing has changed yet," he said.