KEY POINTS:
The New Zealand Warriors have signed English hooker Ian Henderson and retained the services of Kiwis second-rower Epalahame Lauaki but have been forced to release three prominent Australians from their books.
Centre Tony Martin, winger Todd Byrne and hooker George Gatis will not be with the club next year as the Warriors' roster for the 2008 season began to take shape.
Martin is in his fourth season with the club, Byrne his third and Gatis his second.
Henderson, 24, is signed on a two-year deal from English Super League club the Bradford Bulls while an option on Lauaki, 23, has been taken up for the 2008 season.
Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said the signings brought the club closer to completing its NRL recruitment plans.
"We're in discussions with Logan Swann (who is on a one-year contract) and there is still some other work to be done," he said.
"From this side of the Tasman, we have seen how unsettling this time of the year can be with all the transfer movements going on at clubs in Australia.
"Luckily it has been fairly smooth for us, going back to early February when we started re-signing off-contract players.
"But it's also difficult on a personal level because we've had to release players due to salary cap constraints. They're players who have made a real contribution to the club."
Warriors coach Ivan Clearly said Martin, Byrne and Gatis has worked hard during their stints at the club.
"They've been great with the effort they've put in and we wish them all the best for the future," Cleary said.
"Ian will bring a new dimension to the squad after three seasons with Bradford. He's a quality hooker who will give us more strength in that area."
Henderson, born in Torquay in southern England but of Scottish heritage, started his English Super League career during the 2005 season.
Within a few months he was a grand final winner when the Bulls beat Leeds 15-6 at Old Trafford and he was also in the Bradford side who swamped Wests Tigers 30-10 to win the World Club Challenge at Reebok Stadium in early 2006.
Raised in Australia, he had a brief taste of NRL football with the Sydney Roosters in 2003-04 and Parramatta in 2005 before signing with the Bulls. He has played for Scotland.
The Warriors have also signed three of New Zealand's best young players -- back rower Scott Jones, 19, winger Malo Solomona, 20 and prop Leeson Ah Mau, 17.
They will remain with the club until at least the end of the 2009 season and will all be in NRL contention next year.
Jones and Ah Mau will also be eligible for the Warriors' team in the NRL's new under-20 competition.
- NZPA
