NEW signing Atelea Vea grew up in the St George area of Sydney - so it is fitting that the powerhouse packman will be running out with the Saints in 2015 wearing the red vee jersey he looked up to as a boy.

Saints snapped up the Tongan international after he caught the eye with some strong performances in struggling London’s valedictory season in Super League.

And although he had the option to bail out of Broncos early on when it was blindingly obvious that they were heading through the top-flight trapdoor, Vea stuck with his instinct and is glad that he did.

Vea explains: “It was funny really because I had an opportunity to leave and join other teams as the season was going on but I decided to stay.

“I knew it was a risky move because at that stage I hadn’t got a club to go to and I did wonder whether those offers would still be there at the end of the season.

“But going to London was a lifeline in itself and I thought it would be right thing to play with those young guys.

“On the scoreboard and scoresheets it was a disaster year for London but I learned a lot about myself, footy and other players.

“I took a lot out of that last season and although it is something I want to forget it is also one I will remember.”

The team showed real character in turning out every week – remaining competitive despite being on the wrong end of some big scores.

And eventually that perseverance paid off with a win – against no lesser team that the Challenge Cup winners Leeds.

“It was a tough situation. We were not supposed to win any games but we ended up winning one,” he said.

Obviously, Vea knows he is in a totally different environment since heading north to Saints – a place where winning every week is the expected norm.

And so far he is enjoying rising to that challenge – and after the team has enjoyed a short Christmas break after an intense pre-season Vea has returned from Australia with his partner ready to settle into St Helens.

Vea has signed a two year deal, with a third as an option – and given he will be wearing the number 11 jersey filled so magnificently by the departed Sia Soliola, he knows he has to make his own mark.

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 is I am looking forward to taking it with both hands.

“I have got my own style of playing and although I have big boots to fill I’m looking forward to finding a way to do it.”

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 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 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 we used to work together in Cronulla.

“I 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 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 and joined basement battlers London – a move that put him back in the shop window.

“I started the season the 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 here in front of the crowd at Langtree Park and the atmosphere is hard to explain – like I had almost felt it before. I could see how the players were and what the set up was like. It was good to see – but maybe not to play against,” he said.