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Canberra Raiders forward Sia Soliola didn't just prove the critics who panned his NRL return wrong, he rubbed their noses in it.
And the reigning Mal Meninga medallist has backed Jeff Lima to do likewise after two years in the English Super League with Catalans Dragons.
At 33, Lima is four years older than Soliola, who joined the Raiders last year and was a standout for them after spending the previous four seasons with St Helens.
Part of his motivation was to prove to himself he could still cut it in the NRL, and he has no doubt Lima is no different.
"Of course [you want to do that], you see your friends do it like [Rooster] Sam Moa, I played with [Bulldogs captain] James Graham over there [England] before he came over here and did some damage.
"It spurs a lot of us over there in Super League, maybe we can come back here and mix it with the best.
"That's why I'm looking forward to [Catalans recruit] Elliott Whitehead [coming to Canberra] as well, he's quite a talent and Canberra should be excited about him.
"Jeff's been great, he's got a lot of experience being at Souths and Melbourne and he knows what it takes to get ready for a game and what's required for the team."
The recent re-signings of Blake Austin, Jack Wighton, Shannon Boyd and Joey Leilua means Soliola, Queensland back rower Josh Papalii and hooker Josh Hodgson are the main players off contract at the end of 2016 yet to extend.
Papalii is expected to recommit shortly and the club will begin talks with Hodgson when he returns from representing England in their Test series with New Zealand.
Soliola said he would love to stay beyond next year if all parties are keen, but said no official talks had occurred yet between his management and the Raiders.
"It's been a big boost for the club, they've done a great job keeping those fellas," Soliola said.
"It's important you keep a core group who believe in the club and the system.
"Papa [Papalii] is obviously a very talented footballer and it's great the club can keep him because he's a huge asset."
Hooker Adam Clydsdale could have followed Soliola's lead by heading to England after parting ways with Newcastle, before joining the Raiders on a two-year deal.
Raiders assistant coach Mick Crawley, who coached Clydsdale in the Knights under-20s was influential in convincing him to join Canberra.
"They [Newcastle] said we could look elsewhere or we could stay, I wanted to stay in Australia rather than head overseas at this stage of my career," Clydsdale said.
"I had Creepy [Crawley] for a few years and liked the way he coaches, and also the forwards here excite as they're big boys and will be plenty of opportunities to run."
Clydsdale won't have to wait long for a chance to prove himself against his old side, with the Raiders to play their only trial against Newcastle at Orange on February 20.
"There's no hard feelings against the Knights, they are my junior club and I grew up loving the Knights, playing against them I won't be holding anything back I suppose."
Clydsdale and Soliola helped announce TTM Security as a new corporate and jersey sponsor for next season on Thursday.
