League: Warriors sign Eels star to fill departing fullback's boots

The Warriors have filled Brent Webb's fullback's boot by signing Parramatta's Wade McKinnon for three years.

McKinnon is an accomplished performer who is safe under kicks, plays good position, is solid in defence and offers attacking breaks from kick-return.

Fans will have the chance to rate him when the Eels play in Auckland on July 15.

His signing leaves little left to be done in the club's re-signings and recruitment for 2007. Only a couple of holes remain in the allowable 26-man squad and their available salary cap is close to burn-out.

Sydney-born McKinnon, 25, started his career with South Sydney in 2002 and played 26 matches for the Rabbitohs before shifting to the Eels in 2004, since playing 44 games for them.

McKinnon said he believed the Warriors had huge potential and he was looking forward to being part of a developing squad. "The big attraction for me to sign was the way the Warriors play. I like to run off blokes and I think their style is going to help my game."

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary said he was disappointed to lose Webb, who had been doing a great job, but was lucky to replace him with one of the NRL's best-performing fullbacks.

The club has extended the contracts of Ruben Wiki, Tony Martin, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei, Grant Rovelli, Evarn Tuimavave and Epalahame Lauaki, while McKinnon and young fullback Aidan Kirk, from the Sydney Roosters, and brothers Russell and Paora Packer, from the Central Falcons, are the new recruits thus far.

The team Cleary named yesterday for their trip to Sydney to play the Bulldogs this Sunday is basically the same as that which has earned the past four wins - captain Steve Price back in after the State of Origin, Tuimavave back to the bench and Sam Rapira dropped back to 18th man.

The Bulldogs have lost wing Matt Utai, suspended for five games for a high tackle during their 32-10 win over Wests Tigers. Their big men - Mark O'Meley and Willie Mason, NSW, and Nate Myles, Queensland - must back up after the Origin game in Melbourne tonight.

* A Sydney court hearing into seven speeding charges related to a car owned by Sonny Bill Williams was adjourned yesterday as he was granted leave not to appear on compassionate grounds, because his grandmother in New Zealand has died. The speed camera offences occurred between June 2004 and January 2005. Williams has pleaded not guilty.

TEAMS

NZ Warriors: Brent Webb, Patrick Ah Van, Tony Martin, Simon Mannering, Manu Vatuvei, Jerome Ropati, Grant Rovelli, Ruben Wiki, Nathan Fien, Steve Price (c), Awen Guttenbel, Louis Anderson, Sione Faumuina; interchange Lance Hohaia, Evarn Tuimavave, Wairangi Koopu, Micheal Luck, Sam Rapira 18th man.

Canterbury Bulldogs (likely): Luke Patten, Hazem El Masri, Cameron Phelps, Willie Tonga, Trent Cutler, Daniel Holdsworth, Brent Sherwin, Willie Mason, Tony Grimaldi, Roy Asotasi, Sonny Bill Williams, Andrew Ryan (c), Reni Maitua; interchange Mark O'Meley, Nate Myles, Daniel Irvine, Brad Morrin, Dallas McIlwain.