How 'humble' Saints stars have impressed Hopoate

Will Hopoate has not been surprised by the standards he has found being set at St Helens since he joined the club which has dominated the Betfred Super League for the past three seasons.

What the off-season signing from NRL side Canterbury Bulldogs has been surprised by, however, is how grounded his new team-mates remain even with the success they have enjoyed in recent years.

Indeed, that humility is something Hopoate has found runs right from skipper James Roby, a man who will undoubtedly go down as one of Saints' and Super League's all-time greats, to the youngsters taking their first steps at elite level.

"I was definitely expecting dedication and professionalism, and obviously you get that when you're playing in an elite competition," Hopoate said. "But I think I've been more surprised at how talented and humble the boys are.

"Someone like James Roby, he's played for 19-odd years, done everything in the game, and he's such a down-to-earth bloke you can have a chat with.

"He's such a good bloke to be with and talk with, and that's just an example of the type of players and people the club breeds, and that's something I noticed straight away."

Although restricted to just two appearances for St Helens so far after picking up a rib injury in the season-opening win over Catalans Dragons, Hopoate has brought plenty to the table as well.

One of the Tonga international's biggest assets is his versatility, being able to play as a three-quarter or at full-back, as well as having featured in the halves during his career as well.

So far, his two starts have come on the wing, although Konrad Hurrell's one-match suspension means he could shift inside to one of the centre roles when Saints host Warrington Wolves Friday's derby