We now know one thing for certain with the New Zealand Warriors signing Kieran Foran; they are chasing a Premiership asap.

There were two avenues for the Warriors to head down...

The first was one I was always more keen to see the Warriors play the patient game, allow a gang of young players to enter their prime footy years and then enjoy a pretty substantial Premiership window. Shaun Johnson, David Fusitua, Solomone Kata, Tuimoala Lolohea, Albert Vete, Sam Lisone, Jazz Tevaga, Bunty Afoa, Ata Hingano Toafofoa Sipley, James Gavet, Ken Maumalo, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck and then a bunch of young players in reserve grade like Henare Wells, James Bell, Erin Clark and Patrick Sipley are all younger players who are yet to enter the prime of their careers.

I was leaning towards the club allowing this group to establish themselves as quality NRL footballers and then strike, this is why I wasn't overly concerned about this season's result as none of those guys named are currently at their peak or in their prime.

The other avenue was to sign a bunch of big names and try win a Premiership that way. Tuivasa-Sheck and Issac Luke were signings of that nature (Tuivasa-Sheck has the most upside of any signing the Warriors have made, possibly ever) and now signing Foran makes it pretty damn clear that the Warriors aren't so concerned about the long-term; they want to win right now.

Yeah, I'd rather the Warriors lay some foundations and then open that Premiership window but I can't sit here and tell you that signing Kieran Foran is any way, shape or form a bad thing. Foran showed this year with Parramatta that he's certified gun, especially as he slid out of a clinical partnership with Daly Cherry-Evans and stepped up into a halfback role with more responsibility.

We shouldn't worry ourselves with Foran's well-being, nor should this be reason for any sort of debate. First of all, Foran has to think that he's up to playing NRL footy again, then those around him have to think that it's a good idea, then the Warriors have to be sure that Foran won't go backwards in that regard and then the NRL have to be sure that everything is all honkidory. So when Foran walks out on to the field for the Warriors next season, there's no reason to think that he's still in a bad place or bringing bad vibes via his acquaintances.

If Foran's playing footy, it's only because every box has been ticked.

With the Warriors blatantly chasing immediate success, they themselves have raised the roof in terms of expectations. I spent this season down-playing expectations because expectations went through that roof with the signings of Tuivasa-Sheck and Luke, yet Tuivasa-Sheck was scratched for the season. Expectations then needed to be adjusted.

Any footy team with a spine of Tuivasa-Sheck, Johnson, Foran and Luke will have extremely high expectations. We can't even fall back on the 'they need time to build combinations' because that's the Kiwis spine and Johnson's best work has come alongside Foran in the black and white jersey. This is why expectations are now sky-high for immediate success.

Warriors x expectations never really ends too well, this is why I am rather cautious. The Warriors let you and me down, because they never live up to expectations and here they are, laying down some pretty damn hefty expectations.

That this is only a one-year deal is also a tad bit weird, sensible though. Foran needs to prove that he deserves another year, given how 2016 has played out but then who's to say that Foran won't jump ship after 2017 back to Sydney to be closer to his whanau. The Warriors could seal Johnson x Foran combo for the next few years, however they could also very easily be burned by Foran.

Then we have Tuimoala Lolohea. Although, many people have immediately thrown Lolohea's name up as collateral damage without mentioning Ata Hingano who is a long-term halves option for the Warriors. Foran is a far better half than Lolohea and Hingano, far better, so we can't really be mad at signing a better player. What happens now though will be super duper interesting.

Hingano will likely chill behind Foran and Johnson, gaining reserve grade experience and waiting for an opportunity as he did this season. Other clubs will note Hingano lingering in reserve grade though and could/will come circling. I view Hingano as the best halves prospect the club has produced since Stacey Jones, so losing Hingano would be horrible and the possibility of a long-term Foran x Johnson combo won't leave much room for Hingano's development as Foran and Johnson have plenty of time left in their respective careers.

We need to remember that Lolohea is yet to establish himself in any position and we have barely even seen him play consistently in the halves at NRL level. Yes he's incredibly talented, but what has he actually done in the NRL with the Warriors? Lolohea has featured in a variety of positions in a team that has - to put it bluntly - sucked.

The club will obviously want Lolohea to stay and they'll think that Lolohea will want to stay around Auckland, stay in his comfort zone etc. Other clubs are already sniffing around Lolohea and if I were Lolohea and his manager, I'd be on the phone to those clubs discussing what they can offer Lolohea. Not in terms of money as Lolohea can't demand lots of money, but in terms of game time in one position as that's what the Warriors failed to give Lolohea.

Melbourne have been mentioned, so have a bunch of other clubs (led by the Dragons) ... but Melbourne is a bloody attractive destination for Lolohea. Cooper Cronk would steer the ship, allowing Lolohea to add his funk (Blake Green's off to Manly) and the brilliance of the Storm is evident in the way that they have added some funk to their attack besides the extremely structured second-man plays. They offload and play some razzle dazzle footy, which Lolohea would only enhance.

How can I be mad at the Warriors signing Foran? He's quality and the Warriors need that quality, plus it'll bring the best out of Johnson.

I am very weary though as I simply can't fight the feeling that this won't end well as the Warriors struggle to deal with external expectations, let alone expectations they have blown up by snapping up big name after big name. There's also a feeling lingering in my loins about the Warriors recruiting big names to cash in with advertising and sponsorship, neglecting the footy aspect but that's countered by the fact that Foran will make the Warriors better ... just as Tuivasa-Sheck will.

How can I be mad at the Warriors being the big-dawg?

They are the big-dawg now and their Premiership window is wide open, with a breeze of expectation drifting through that open window.