ATELEA Vea was not long out of school when doctors told him that he would probably be better packing up playing rugby league.

Having played the game since he was four, the medical advice after surgery on serious ankle and shoulder injuries sustained during a spell with the Wests Tigers juniors, was something of a bombshell.

But it made the powerhouse packman, born in Sydney to Tongan parents, even more determined to grab the chances that came his way subsequently.

And moving up to St Helens represents another big chance for Vea – and one he is keen to grab with both hands.

Vea said: “I have been in situations in the past where I have had doubts over whether I would play again so to have this opportunity and being here at St Helens I am looking forward to taking it with both hands.

Vea takes up the time when a dark shadow was cast over his career, but he never gave up hope of finding a way back in.

“I did my shoulder really early on in my career not long after school and the doctor told me I was probably best packing in.

“I spent some time away from footy and just saw a lot of my mates playing and did not feel I was in a place where I should be and was working in a shop, so literally had a roll of the dice. And it paid off.

“I was actually a good mate of Sam Moa, who ended up playing in Hull, and used to follow him to training where he was reserve grade at Cronulla.

"It was just by chance that one day they had a change of coach and the new man called for a starting team for a trial game and I was stood there on the edge watching and got in the team that weekend.

“From there I got into the group for a full time contract the following year and managed to stay there,” he said.

Spells at Melbourne and the St George team he supported as a boy followed, and last season he came to England to join basement battlers London – a move that put him back in the shop window.

“I started the season late last year with Broncos and the game against Saints was one of my first. It was also one of the stand-out games for me up north.

“At that stage I didn’t really have any plans to stay in England.

“When Saints approached me I remembered playing in front of the crowd at Langtree and the atmosphere is hard to explain – it almost felt like I had been there before. I could see how the players were and the set up . It was good to see – but maybe not to play against," he said.