KEY POINTS:
The Warriors are banking on Brent Tate providing the midfield thrust, speed and attacking threat they've been missing and he's banking on the team turning in performances good enough to get him selected for rep sides.
Tate, 25, wants to continue playing State of Origin for Queensland and
test rugby league for the Kangaroos and knows he needs to be in a top-level side in order to do so.
"That was a big part of my decision before I signed," he said this week after moving to Auckland, settling into the Kiwi lifestyle with brother-in-law Steve Price after a few days on the Coromandel Peninsula. this week.
Tate is one of several players to leave the Broncos this year because of salary cap pressure, the 25-year-old snapped up by the Warriors on a three-year deal soon after he came on the market.
Unfortunately he missed half of the 2007 season after suffering a bad knee tear in the third Origin game. It was not the way the Brisbane-raised Tate wanted to end his days with the city's club.
"It really hit me at the Broncos' last home game," he said. "It's been a really special place for some time." He's won Origin series and test matches on the Suncorp Stadium turf, as well as plenty of Broncos home games.
Tate has just started walking and cycling as part of his rehabilitation. "I'm at where I'm meant to be but it [exercise] is a bit limited before Christmas."
Though he may be a bit behind in the pre-season fitness work, he's hoping to be running by the time of the Warriors' first trials and maybe to be available for their first game mid-March. The recovery time is put at nine months and he's just over two months into it.
"The positive to take out of it is to be ready for 2008," Tate said.
He has no problem with the neck injury he suffered in 2003 after which he has worn a neck brace.
Tate is married to Lani, who he met in Brisbane but she has Maori blood on her mother's side and family here. He's on a three-year contract.
Tate's sister Jo is married to Price and he took advantage of the family link before signing. Price's words about the club and the lifestyle helped convince him.
"I think it's a really exciting time for the club, aside from Steve and Ruben [Wiki], everyone is around 25 and under," Tate said. He came expecting the Warriors to be a regular part of the NRL playoffs.
He has often been at wing for the Broncos, Queensland and Australia. His preferred position is centre and that, too, was discussed before he signed. "I like to get a bit more involved, hopefully I'll get some games there.
Tate will likely be the fastest Warrior.