WARRINGTON Wolves' signing of speedy three-quarter Daryl Cardiss has sent out clear messages this week.

The 26-year-old full back or winger, who has been signed as a free agent from doomed Super League side Halifax, will be a starter for sixth-placed Wolves as they continue their play-offs push at London Broncos on Sunday, kick-off 3pm at Griffin Park.

Head coach Paul Cullen said: "We have assessed the needs of the Warrington squad from now until the end of the season and the signing of Daryl is a signal from us that can be interpreted in many different ways.

"One, that we are looking to improve on our position in the table and go for a sixth or even a fifth place finish.

"And two, it's a message to all players that what they've given so far isn't good enough. We have to have more from them and I'm going to do that by putting even more pressure on the players.

"This is a novel situation for most of the Warrington players - we'll get a nose bleed if we're not too careful because we've not been up this high before and we can't get carried away about it. We have to keep working harder."

And Cullen has placed immediate pressure on former Wigan back Cardiss, who signed on Tuesday after a full training session with Wolves and after passing a stringent medical examination.

He said: "Daryl is with us from now until the end of the season and for 2004, with a view that he is on one-year's notice. That's the way I have worked it with him. Daryl has come to Warrington to rescue his career and I don't want anyone resting on their laurels."

Cardiss played at full back in the majority of his five seasons with Halifax but his capture does not necessarily mean the end of the line for the club's long-term number one Lee Penny.

Cullen said: "It's not intended to mean that. The signing is to apply pressure to players this week, next week and the following weeks.

"I said to all players at the end of last year that those who had one year left on their contracts were on one-year's notice. I saw, when I first came here, how players drop off when the games didn't seem too important. I still remember vividly Salford and Wakefield from the last two games of last year and I'm absolutely determined that we won't do that again. I'll put as much pressure on the players as I possibly can without having any negative impact on them."

And Cullen will definitely not be sticking with Cardiss as simply a full back option.

He said: "I see Darryl as a full back and winger and one of the requirements from me to him when we had our preliminary discussions was that he must be able and willing to play in at least two and possibly three positions.

"It is something that has served us well this year. If you consider what Graham Appo has gone through, from wing to full back to centre to stand off, and he plays all positions with equal enthusiasm, equal passion and commitment.

"And Brent Grose came over from Australia as a winger and is now one of the best centres in the country.

"No one should think they are a one-position player. I need to have the flexibility to move people around, to satisfy the team's needs."

Cardiss, who was in Great Britain's 30-man train on squad for the last Ashes Series with Australia, offers a lot to Warrington.

Cullen said: "He has experience and an absolute desire to better himself, which is a great energy that we need to channel. He's had some ups and downs in his career but he's now settled down as a family man and his best years are in front of him.

"He is a man who possesses something that I can't coach, and that's natural speed. He has great footwork and great agility and it's our aim to make him a better player than he already is."