Warriors wary on Wade

Warriors fullback Wade McKinnon continues to make a faster than expected recovery from knee surgery and is back in training, although he is sitting out contact sessions.

He has been out of action since tearing his anterior cruciate ligament in the pre-season.

Warriors team doctor Dr John Mayhew says there is a definite possibility McKinnon will play in this NRL season but it will not be in the next couple of weeks and they have to make sure they do not rush him back too early. Mayhew says the players often feel good after knee surgery, but there is a need for patience to ensure the ligament graft is as strong as possible.

As for winger Manu Vatuvei, Doc Mayhew says he is also coming back strongly from a foot injury and could return as early as next week.

While the Warriors are keen to get Vatuvei and McKinnon back on the field as soon as possible, there is no long-term future at the club for Nathan Fien.

Fien has played hooker, halfback and five-eighth in his four seasons at the club, but the Warriors have indicated they will not be extending his contract beyond the current 2009 date. The 28-year-old joined the Warriors in 2005 and has made 86 appearances.

Fien is looking at an early release with a possible future in the UK Super League, and the 28-year-old will be granted an early release if he can secure a deal elsewhere. Warriors CEO Wayne Scurrah says while they do not see Fien as part of their plans for 2010 onwards, he is under no pressure to leave. He says Fien is at a stage of his career where he wants to secure a long-term contract and they are not in a position to offer one.

The UK Super League is expanding by two clubs next season so Fien could be a target if he is not snapped up by another NRL club.

Scurrah says the club is yet to finish its recruitment for 2009 but they are not in discussion with Tigers halfback Matthew Head.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Storm fullback Billy Slater has successfully had his grade two contrary conduct charge downgraded by league's NRL judiciary. Slater will now be suspended for one match rather than two, meaning he is still unavailable for the Storm's trip to Mount Smart Stadium this Sunday.

Warriors coach Ivan Cleary says it is a good time to be playing the reigning Premiers after the Warriors' three straight wins. Cleary is pleased Slater will not be on the Storm team sheet , although he is just one of several great players in the Storm.

The Storm is at the centre of the debate over the contentious grapple tackle after Cronulla coach Ricky Stuart claimed the Storm had gone back to their old ways of gripping players around the head. Cleary believes the Melbourne Storm are not the only culprits and that many of the top NRL teams are adopting the controversial wresting technique.

Stuart believes the NRL has eased off such tackles, and Cleary says there has been no change and the best teams are still frequently doing it. He says early in the year a lot of penalties were given for tackles around the head but there are not many for the other techniques being used.

The Warriors will test the allegations when they face the Storm at Mt Smart Stadium on Sunday.