New Warriors coach Brian McClennan has wasted little time in getting his feet under the table and has already approached Andrew Johns to help develop the club's exciting halves.
He's also signalled that Krisnan Inu needs to prove himself to his new coach after a mixed season with the Warriors and that he's considering trying winger Manu Vatuvei in the centres next season.
McClennan has kept a low profile since being appointed Warriors coach in August, preferring to let outgoing coach Ivan Cleary concentrate on the present season which finished with their grand final loss to Manly on Sunday, but he's done considerable work behind the scenes.
One thing he's hoping to do is employ Johns, the former Australia, New South Wales and Newcastle halfback, in an advisory role to work with the halves.
Johns has long been an admirer of exciting halfback Shaun Johnson and has worked with the halves at a number of clubs in the past, including Parramatta, Newcastle and the Bulldogs and he was also employed briefly as the Wallabies' kicking coach.
If a deal can be struck with Johns, it's most likely he would come to the club in pre-season, which starts in the second week of November. Those involved in the upcoming Four Nations won't be required back until the end of the year and Johnson was yesterday selected in a 23-man Kiwis squad.
Inu has come under scrutiny in recent weeks and rumours have circulated he could be out of favour in 2012 and was even being shipped around to other clubs.
McClennan told Radio Sport Inu needed to prove himself after a patchy season and it won't have helped Inu's case that McClennan is considering using blockbusting winger Vatuvei in the centres.
Vatuvei has scored 90 tries in 132 NRL games on the wing but he has the speed and size to move one position further in.
McClennan had previously signalled he was keen to promote Konrad Hurrell, who was a standout for the Junior Warriors this season, but Vatuvei would bring greater experience. He's not noted as a great passer but would pose problems for opposition defences wherever he played in a similar way to Manly's Tony Williams, who was moved from the wing into the forward pack this season.
Jerome Ropati will return from his long-term knee injury in time for 2012 but the club acknowledge centre is one area they lack the sort of depth they have in other positions.
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