Aidan Kirk> Warriors
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VODAFONE WARRIORS BOOST DEPTH BY SIGNING ROOSTERS UTILITY
Young Sydney Roosters utility back Aidan Kirk has strengthened the Vodafone Warriors’ depth by signing a two-year contract.
Yet to make his first-grade debut, the Gosford-born 20-year-old has been a regular in the club’s successful premier league side, lining up in its grand final appearances in 2004 and 2005.
Kirk will move to Auckland at the end of the 2006 season, joining former team-mate Grant Rovelli who left the Roosters after three years in premier league football to make his first-grade breakthrough with the Vodafone Warriors this year.
The newest Australian to sign for the club also has first-hand experience of working with Vodafone Warriors head coach Ivan Cleary, who guided the Roosters’ 2004 premier league side to grand final success.
“We need to build up our depth in a lot of positions and Aidan’s versatility will help us to do that,” said Cleary.
“We’re putting a lot of emphasis on creating an environment and attitude that demands consistency in performance and Aidan’s certainly a player who meets that requirement.
“He has probably been unlucky not to play first-grade by now but, as Grant (Rovelli) showed by moving here this year, he’ll have a chance to do that at the Vodafone Warriors.”
Kirk, 180cm and 91kg, is able to play most positions in the backline from standoff through to fullback.
Cleary reiterated the Vodafone Warriors’ long-term commitment to becoming a development club.
“We have noticed the comments (Kiwi coach) Brian McClennan has made about the lack of depth in so many positions in New Zealand rugby league,” said Cleary.
“It’s an issue we are addressing at the Vodafone Warriors. We have signed young locally-based players who have the potential to develop into first-graders but that won’t happen straightaway.
“So, in the meantime, we will still need to recruit players in key areas to provide depth that’s not there right now in the New Zealand game.”
www.warriors.co.nz
