NEW Saints second row man Joel Thompson is looking forward to bringing his own style, honed in 13 years at the NRL, to Super League.

The Star’s Mike Critchley caught up with him to ask about first impressions, the challenge of moving his family 12,000 miles during a pandemic….and of course that infamous split tongue injury (which we display below in a tweet from the time but issue a graphic warning with it.)

MC: Has settling into a new environment been testing with the Covid/lockdown?

JT: Yes and no, like anyone coming into a new environment you have to adapt and get used to it. We are quite settled and understand the restrictions and where the country is at and accept that.

That has brought us closer in doing things at home with exercise and home schooling, we have embraced that.

You assess the reality of where we are at, but we see light at the end of the tunnel and we are focused on doing things the best we can.

St Helens Star:

MC: Did that ever give you second thoughts about coming – given the scale of the Covid rates here compared to Australia/New Zealand?

JT: It was tough because I ended up bringing my family to a place where there was high Covid numbers, but obviously you take care and try protect yourselves as much as you can.

But I was really driven and committed and if I commit to something then I go through with it and face the challenges that come with it.

It (Covid) is a big one but at the end of the day I want to come here and play rugby league and play my best footy with St Helens and crack on with it.

St Helens Star:

MC: How are you finding the club, and does it live up to your expectations?

JT: The club is beyond my expectations, the environment, the team and its professionalism.

The St Helens team, with the squad and talent that they have got in the team, is impressive.

They are also very well-driven, going beyond what I expected - they would be a top team back in Australia, without a doubt.

I have come to a team that has been back-to-back champions and I am looking to bring my style of football to that team.

MC: What vibe do you pick up from the lads back in training?

JT: I have got the sense now hungry they are for success and the passion within the squad and how the community of St Helens.

Rugby league is part of the DNA here - and I want to embrace that and be a part of it.

I am learning a lot, even at my age, and being challenged is always healthy as a professional.

READ: What Agnatius Paasi wants to bring to Saints>

MC: Fitness wise you had that leg injury before you left – how is that now?

JT: I was in a bit of a grey area in leaving NRL and coming to Super League – that is probably the worst time to get an injury. But I am good with that sort of stuff – and I am professional and get on top things.

The club have been unreal to be honest and the physios and the team have picked me up to where I need to be, because I missed a bit of physio leaving Manly and coming over here. Once here the team have been good.

I have done my rehab now and so looking forward to training with the full team now. We have a long time until kick off so that gives us time to put work in.

St Helens Star:

MC: We can’t leave injuries, without asking about how you managed to play with a split tongue?

JT: I am just super competitive. I did not want to leave the team short and so just got on with it.

It was painful but did not realise the damage until after the game. I just kept my mouth shut because I was losing a fair bit of blood and did not want the ref to take me off.

It is one of the worst places for being sensitive and the throbbing and pain was the next level. It is all part of the game. I had to get a few loose teeth put back in place and the tongue stitched up – but all sorted!

St Helens Star:

MC: The fans have enjoyed your inter-actions – from the moment you signed, is that something we can expect to continue?

JT: I feel that is important. I enjoy my inter-action with the fans on Twitter - that is important to have that.

You only have a period of playing pro football so when you go into that next phase of your life you lose that interaction with fans. I feel it is important to have a chat and have done that with all of my different clubs throughout my career. It is not hard to have a casual chat when you can.

I also expect the fans to let me know if I am not doing what I need to be doing.

I feel like UK people really invest in their team, they go beyond supporters’ attitude which is good to see as it makes you fall back in love with footy and why you play rugby league. The passion and love they have for the team – it is good.

St Helens Star:

MC: Will you be playing the same type of game with Saints in Super League as you have done in the NRL?

JT: It is early days in pre-season but if I can add more to my game then I am happy to do that. I feel like you can become a bit of a robot sometimes in being around football, if you stick to certain styles of play they want from you.

I will follow what Woolfy wants from me and if I can do that and add my own style – the type I have played the last 13 years in the NRL. I hold myself to high expectations looking for to aiming up to that and delivering on that.

MC: You have big boots to fill here, with Zeb Taia, a hugely popular player leaving?

JT: He was a great player and played against him in the NRL – but again I will bring my own style.

I am not going to be Zeb Taia, or what he played, I will play my football and am comfortable with that.

It has given me my career and got this club interested in bringing me here and looking forward to doing that in a different competition against different teams.

I don’t know anyone and they don’t me and so that’s exciting and looking forward to start the year off.

St Helens Star:

MC: What was the attraction of St Helens and how did Kristian Woolf sell it to you?

JT: I enjoyed listening to what Woolfy had to say and his vision for the team and that came through with winning the Championship.

When I played over here with St George against Warrington I really enjoyed the excitement of the fans, the chants and the songs and that was something different to what I was used to and thought would enjoy it over here playing?

Dealing with how cold it is we are comfortable now things will get better when come out of lockdown and they can get on with school instead of being home schooled. All different challenges.

A little bit of adversity faced early in life will be good for them and make them better through going this.

Pictures: Bernard Platt