League: No recruitment likely in 2006

For a team that sits 12th on the table and with their chances of a place in the top eight fading like crowds at Ericsson Stadium this season, you might think a few changes were in order.

After all, Mid-table Mediocrity-ville is not a place New Zealand sports fans like to take their holidays, so it's a little disheartening for Warriors supporters that the club aren't likely to add to their playing ranks for 2006.

The Warriors believe they have a side capable of reaching the heights of 2002 - when they lost the grand final - and have consistently said they're not looking for anyone new but the main reason is the Warriors have no room in their salary cap to bring in new players, despite the departure of the high-earning Stacey Jones.

In reality, this $400,000 has been eaten up pretty quickly by the retention of others whose contracts have been improved, as well as a need to protect young talent from other clubs.

The problem is, the Warriors will be losing their key creative spark when Jones boards the plane to Perpignan.

He's been a shining light in recent games as he pulls the strings like the puppeteer he can be. Nathan Fien could become that kind of player, Lance Hohaia has looked tidy at hooker and, despite the high regard in which Jerome Ropati is held, he's yet to develop into the sort of player who can strike fear into the hearts of the opposition. He's not even playing at five-eighths, where he's tipped to take over the reins.

The reality is all teams would love a Darren Lockyer or Andrew Johns but there aren't many of them around and they cost the earth. The Warriors certainly can't afford to bring one in, which is why they were so keen on Anthony Mundine whom they might have been able to pick up outside the salary cap if he had chosen to return to rugby league.

Mundine was a player capable of breaking open a game and looked like he would have been available. Instead, the only quality halves on the market are Matt Orford and Braith Anasta, but the Warriors can't afford them.

As well as losing Jones, barnstorming prop Iafeta Paleaaesina is taking the cash and running to Wigan - something the club had not bargained on, meaning they could be in the market for a front-rower.

]They could also be looking to offload squad members like Karl Temata, Evarn Tuimavave, Tevita Latu and Epalahame Lauaki. The four aren't exactly high earners, Temata is off contract, and few clubs are likely to be tripping over themselves for their signatures.

Questions remain, however, over Awen Guttenbeil and Richard Villasanti - who have both been linked with as-yet unsubstantiated moves to the UK Super League - as well as the injured Tony Martin and Francis Meli.

Meli has had an ordinary season and could be one of those potentially interested in a lucrative UK deal. If he was to leave, for example, the Warriors would need another quality outside back.

The Warriors pride themselves on discovering home-growntalent and regard themselves as a development club rather than a recruitment club. Last year was an exceptional one when they brought in Steve Price, Ruben Wiki, Fien and Todd Byrne in the hope of solving a number of problem areas. Other years have been highlighted by the arrival of only one or two new players so it's hardly a new stance.

This season Manu Vatuvei, 19, and Simon Mannering, 18, have been the principal movers but waiting to make their mark, perhaps as early as next year, are the likes of Sonny Fai and Frank-Paul Nuuausala. Both play in the second row and were stand-out performers at age-group level, but neither are training with the first-team squad, a usual sign they are being considered for the top team.

The Warriors have beaten NRL leaders the Broncos twice this season but have struggled to achieve any sort of consistency.

They will need that if they are to qualify for the top eight, and if they are to make more of an impression in 2006.

But it's becoming increasingly clearer that they will have to do it with what they've got.

- HERALD ON SUNDAY