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New fullback Wade McKinnon will know plenty about the Warriors' first opponents in the 2007 NRL season after they were drawn to host Parramatta.
The 25-year-old McKinnon replaces Leeds-bound Kiwis fullback Brent Webb after three seasons with Parramatta and will line up against his old team-mates at Mt
Smart Stadium on March 17.
It will be the sixth time in eight seasons the Warriors will kick off their campaign at home and they should at least do so on an even footing with their opposition after they began the 2006 season with a four-point penalty for a salary cap breach.
McKinnon and other new recruits Aidan Kirk (halves) and Michael Crockett (wing) joined their new team-mates for the first time last week at the first day of Warriors' pre-season training.
Other new signings Logan Swann and Michael Witt will join in the next 10 days, while the club's Kiwi players will report back next month before pre-season training starts in earnest in the New Year.
It has not yet been determined when Nathan Fien, who was at the centre of the recent Grannygate saga, will return to Auckland.
In addition to McKinnon, the Eels have lost a host of experienced players from their 2006 squad, including five-eighths John Morris (Wests Tigers), second rower Dean Widders, halfback Jeremy Smith (South Sydney), centre Brett Delaney and winger Matt Petersen (Gold Coast).
Prop Michael Vella (Hull KR) and lock Glenn Morrison (Bradford) are heading to Super League.
In comparison, the Warriors have a relatively settled squad, with Awen Guttenbeil (Castleford) and Webb the only notable absentees. Sione Faumuina (Harlequins) was released by the club midway through the season for disciplinary reasons.
The Warriors have so far confirmed two trial games - against the North Queensland Cowboys in Mackay (Saturday, February 24) and the Bulldogs at North Harbour Stadium (Saturday, March 3).
With the Gold Coast Titans joining the NRL competition next year, there will be eight matches a week, including two on Friday nights, while Monday night football will also return.
The full 2007 draw is due to be released this week but a feature of the first round is the all-Queensland opener between the Broncos and Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium, along with the Titans' first home game two days later against the Dragons, also at Suncorp.
The Warriors have targeted a top-eight spot as a minimum achievement but believe 2008 might represent a better chance of making another grand final.
