More than six years later, Canberra Raiders recruit Sia Soliola smirks as he brings up his recollection - thanks mainly to a YouTube clip - of his attempted shot on his rugby league idol.

Soliola was a 21-year-old already in his fourth season of NRL with the Sydney Roosters, trying to model himself as a crash-tackling centre like his hero Wiki, who had started in the Raiders back line beside Mal Meninga in 1993.

But by this stage, 2008, Wiki had transformed into one of the most frightening, barnstorming back-rowers in the game, who finished with 311 NRL matches and 55 Tests for New Zealand. Putting it politely, he skittled Soliola.

 

"I always try to have a joke with him here and there about it, but he tries to steer away from that conversation," Soliola says laughing, seemingly flattered by the opportunity to be flattened by Wiki that day.

"He's an awesome fella. He's a person everyone should strive to be like because he's a perfect example in rugby league.

"All the boys would laugh about it, they'd call me Ruben Wiki here and there.

"He's always been an idol of mine, the way he holds himself and his professionalism on and off the field. Coming here to Canberra confirms how good he was when you speak to other people about him."

Now 28, Soliola is returning to the NRL after a five-year absence, and like Wiki he has converted from the centres to the back row.

He left the NRL in 2009, but arrives back in Australia after winning the UK Super League grand final with St Helens.

Raiders coach Ricky Stuart handed Soliola his debut at the Roosters in 2005 and has now recruited him to Canberra for leadership. With 203 first grade games, 92 in the NRL, Soliola is the most experienced player in the Raiders' squad.

Soliola admits he was prepared to play out his career in England. But it was a cancer scare for his father, Seuaeto, based in Sydney, that prompted Soliola to explore his options back in the NRL.

"One of the main reasons I came back is for the old fella, he was quite sick," Soliola says.

"A couple of years back, in 2012, I had a decision to make and I opted to stay over there. As the year went on, the conversations became quite different, [dad] kept asking me if I was enjoying it there and if there was a good opportunity to come back.

"So I put myself on the market. A few other clubs were out there, probably when I first heard about [interest from] Canberra I didn't think too much about it. But Ricky was talking to me about the club moving forward, I thought the Canberra lifestyle would suit me and my family."

Soliola says his father is in much better health, and now he has peace of mind by being closer to his parent.

"He's good now, stubborn as always," Soliola says. "Twenty-four hours is a long time to get to someone on a plane if you'e on call. It's always going to be in the back of your mind. It definitely was."

Soliola played two seasons at St Helens with James Graham, who has established himself as one of the best forwards in the NRL since coming to the Canterbury Bulldogs in 2012.

He is encouraged to see the success players have had coming from the UK Super League, especially his good friend and Roosters prop Sam Moa, who transferred from Hull FC in 2013..

"You look at James Graham, the four Burgess brothers, all of them have done well. My old mate Sammy Moa he's probably someone I've based my motivation on now because he deserves all he gets. He's come here and he's done damage and played a really effective role for the Roosters and represented his country. He's someone I hope to emulate."

Soliola has taken in another good friend and Raiders recruit, Frank-Paul Nu'uausala, to live with his family, wife Gemmah and son Israel.

Nu'uausala credits Soliola as a mentor who took him from a "wanna-be gangster" on the streets of New Zealand to a professional at the Roosters.

Soliola said he and Nu'uausala were now determined to be a positive influence on the young Raiders squad.

"Frank's the whole package now," Soliola says. "I've got this sense of pride to see the way he's grown up and become so professional.

"He went through that transition period at the Roosters from 2009, when things weren't going so good, to a premiership-winner, that's going to rub off on the other boys here.

"[A winning team culture] definitely helps because you gain really good habits. One thing I noticed at St Helens was how proud the town was of the club. I can see Canberra being the same as well, just the stubbornness of not losing and working for each other.

"The club's at a transition stage where we've lost senior players like Terry Campese to Hull KR and Brett White's retired.

"I guess they're looking for new leaders, young or old, so it's nice for me to come in with a bunch of guys willing to do what it takes to learn to win."