NRL: New Warrior raring to play

Bodene Thompson at the NRL Nines launch in Sydney.

New Warriors signing Bodene Thompson expects to face some strong competition to secure a place in the club's 18-man NRL Auckland Nines squad.

The Tauranga-born 26-year-old enjoyed his first taste of nines at this year's inaugural tournament with his former club Wests Tigers, and knows just how popular the event is among players at every club.

The right-edge back-rower has made his hopes of playing the two-day tournament on Saturday, January 31 and Sunday, February 1, clear to Warriors coach Andrew McFadden, but realises his nines dream is one shared by all of his new teammates.

"Yeah, I think everyone makes it clear. You get 45 guys in the pre-season that make it clear that they want to play," Thompson explained during Thursday's official 2015 NRL Auckland Nines jersey launch in Sydney.

"Hopefully I get a start. It's a fun concept, fast. I'll be going back there and training as hard as I can come January 5 and hopefully get selected."

While Thompson enjoyed all the colour and hype of this year's event, he watched on with envy as the Warriors took centre stage, with the capacity crowd standing to applaud the home team whenever they entered the stadium to warm-up and play.

"It was crazy, just crazy. It was so good," he said with a laugh. "When the Warriors came out you couldn't hear anything because of the reception and the backing behind them. Hopefully we get that again next year."

Thompson is yet to find a home on this side of the Tasman and is taking time to enjoy the final weeks of his off-season with family on the Gold Coast, where he first moved as a 16-year-old.

"All my stuff has gone over [to Auckland] in a container. Half my family lives on the Gold Coast so I'm just there visiting them for Christmas and then I'll move back on January 3.

"It's a bit nerve-racking but when I moved from the Gold Coast to the Tigers it was a bit more nerve-racking because it was the first club that I had moved to.

"This one I'm a little bit at ease with because I'm going home, family's there and [playing] with the Warriors was a childhood dream.

"I'm so excited to be back there for three years and I can't wait to rip in."

Earning a Kiwis call-up for the Four Nations tournament gave him a chance to get to know a few of his new teammates which will help his transition back into Auckland.

"I got to spend five weeks with five of the boys that were in camp so it was good. There will be some friendly faces when I go to training on the Monday morning.

"All the Warriors boys played awesome and I can't wait," Thompson said.

"They've got new coaching staff and I've heard it's all up to scratch and all the boys are loving it and we've got a big year coming up."