SAINTS recruit Dominique Peyroux has already shown his commitment to his new club – even before a first ball has been kicked.

Peyroux’s partner Grace is due to give birth to the couple’s second child later this month, but the versatile Cook Islands and Samoan international will be 12,000 miles away in St Helens playing in a friendly.

The 26-year-old centre or back rower, who Saints signed from New Zealand Warriors, will stay in touch through Skype during this time while remaining focused on the fresh start to his career in the red vee.

Saints coach Keiron Cunningham said: “Dom has given me a solemn oath that he will give his best.

“To be fair to Dom, his wife is due to give birth in Australia around the time of our pre-season game against Widnes.

“He will, however, miss it and play in the friendlies and said he will watch the birth on Skype, so he is definitely committed.

“I said to Dom that no place is guaranteed and that I wanted to see him train and play in the friendlies.”

Cunningham has not yet finalised in his head his starting line up for when Super League kicks off on February 5, and he has a range of options in the centres, pack and, with the signing of Theo Fages, the halves.

The trial games against Dewsbury, on Sunday, and Widnes next week, will help him finalise that line up, including where Peyroux will play.

“I have still not picked my side.

“Dom has been running at centre and Percy can play a bit of wing and has been training there as well. Jordan Turner has been running at six and centre, too.

“Dom is a centre who can play back row, but because of the injuries we have run him more in the backs and he has looked very good,” he said.

Apart from Peyroux, Saints have brought in Lama Tasi, Theo Fages and Jack Owens in the off-season.

Apart from prop Tasi, who is a direct replacement for the departed Mose Masoe, the rest can cover more than one position.

“We have got players who can play in multiple positions and that is definitely going to help further down the track.

“Seeing them train every day, I am sure they are all going to have an influence on our season,” he said.

Cunningham said the team enjoyed pre-season, even if some of the fitness and endurance work away from their usual training base was quite gruelling.

They headed north to hilly Cumbria for one base, then down to join the Marines in Plymouth before wrapping up the year at Rivington Pike.

Cunningham said: “We just tried to mix it up. It was less what it entailed, but an attempt to get them away from the same environment because we have not been away for a few years.

“I have been promising them some sunny weather for a few seasons - the least I could do was take them to Plymouth.

“Rivington Pike was a bit grim too - I only had to walk up and it nearly killed me.

“It was a good finish to the year.

“The pre-season has been good because it is a time where you can get plenty of information into your young players and get people fit and healthy.”