There once was a time when many Warriors youngsters watlzed into NRL footy and perhaps even mid-range battlers enjoyed a tad too much game time, a time when the Warriors didn't have festering competition for places in the top-17. Heading into the 2018 season, there was already a greater sense of depth and competition for spots and this went to a nek-level with the Warriors officially signing Anthony Gelling.

The circumstance surrounding Gelling's signing leads me to believe that this won't have any notable implications on the Warriors salary cap. It's a one-year deal, meaning that Gelling will need to earn further investment and as he returned to Auckland from England to be around his whanau, Gelling hasn't been head-hunted or recruited by the Warriors - this is a bonus for Gelling. As the wider squad was already formed, Gelling probably got a 25-30 roster spot (second-tier), which will allow for a bit of a financial boost if he plays NRL footy.

Given that minimal investment in Gelling and what the Warriors get in return, this move can only be viewed as a positive. I'm not overly bothered by what Gelling did in the Super League, all we need to know is that Gelling maintained a contract with a strong Super League club over a decent period of time and perhaps more importantly; Gelling is a player who got outside the Auckland bubble. 

Gelling played Under 20s with the Roosters and comes to the Warriors having sussed himself out as a human and a footy player. He doesn't just have experience on the field, he's got life experience and this follows the trend of the Warriors recruits for 2018, most of whom have toiled for a number of years and tasted the ups and downs of this game.

Agnatius Paasi and Leivaha Pulu were steady reserve graders until linking up with Gold Coast Titans where they flourished, establishing themselves as legit NRL players. They both left Auckland as teenagers, earned level-up contracts and Pulu even had a stint in France. Blake Green's got all sorts of experience as well and he's had to demand further contracts through performance, nothing's been handed out to him.

Adam Blair, Gerard Beale and Peta Hiku have racked up games with different clubs while maintaining a high level of play. Hiku was a fine Warriors junior and he's not the typical Warriors player who then flourishes at an Australian club because he was crazy good for the Under 20s, but part of the reason Warriors juniors get better with other Australian clubs is because they get out of the fluff that is the Auckland bubble; Hiku has definitely done that.

Gelling fits the mould and adds yet another body to an outside back group, making the battle for starting centre spots one of the funkiest narratives this season. Don't sleep on Gelling possibly competing for the right edge spot either, yet all signs seem to be point to Gelling being in the mix at centre along with Solomone Kata, Blake Ayshford, Beale and Hiku. 

That's five players competing for two spots and I'm not overly fussed with who gets the gig, all I know is that the best players for the job will earn selection in the coming months. Last season's pairing of Kata and Ayshford will almost definitely not be rolled out this season and while Ayshford's the likeliest bloke to dip down to reserve grade, Kata will have to prove himself as the best option on the left.

A lot will depend on who earns the left wing spot, where there's also a hefty dose of competition. Ken Maumalo's going to struggle to hold down his starting spot with Beale, Hiku and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad in the mix there - may the best bloke win.

I'm still of the opinion that we will see a completely different left edge this season; Tohu Harris and Blake Green are locked in, Kata and Maumalo will struggle to hold maintain starting spots. Signing Gelling adds further mayhem to the left and right edge as well, where the competition increases for Ayshford. Gelling may not even play NRL footy this year, his presence will ensure that whoever is playing NRL footy each week has earned that spot and has to do their job to maintain selection.

The depth offered by this signing is a big plus, overall though this signing highlights how drastic those winds of change through Mt Smart have been. In the past, when Warriors depth has been tested, youngsters had to step up, youngsters who had only tasted life in their comfort zones. Now the Warriors still have youngsters, yet the depth at Mt Smart is built around footy experience, life experience and players who understand the weekly grind of NRL footy. 

This means that come round one, who ever is in the top-17 has had to fight off some savage competition for that spot and that the Warriors are better equipped to deal with the ins and outs during the season. 

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Peace and love 27.