Canberra back-rower Sia Soliola has admitted he would likely have ended his career in the English Super League had the Raiders not come knocking, after signing a two-year extension until 2018.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
And last year's Mal Meninga medallist believes the Raiders are capable of achieving "the ultimate goal" within that time frame.
The 29-year-old was content to bide his time as the club worked on locking up a host of young talent until the end of 2018, including Jack Wighton, Josh Papalii, Josh Hodgson and Shannon Boyd, and recruited Parramatta prop Junior Paulo.
Soliola began his NRL career with the Roosters but moved to St Helens in 2010, and won a grand final in his final year with the club in 2014.
But he moved to the Raiders last season to be closer to his Sydney-based father, who was ill at the time.
"Had I stayed there [England] another year, I may have spent the rest of my career there," Soliola said.
"When you're over there and you're watching the NRL there's always the question in the back of your mind whether you can still do it or not.
"When I watched Frank [Raiders teammate Frank-Paul Nuuausala] win a premiership with the Roosters [in 2013] it was like a do-or-die attitude.
"The mindset at the time was, especially with dad and his health, that I'd regret not going back more than the regret of leaving St Helens.
"One of the main reasons I came back was for the old man, but at the same time I wanted to fulfil that same goal I've achieved over in England.
"You could probably say it's unfinished business really.
"We'll see how the body holds up, I've got these next two years on top of this season to get the ultimate goal everyone wants to achieve, we'll see what happens from there."
Stuart and the core of the squad, bar Paul Vaughan, Elliott Whitehead, Edrick Lee, Shaun Fensom and Jordan Rapana (all 2017) are contracted for the next two seasons.
"That gives a lot of confidence in the boys," Soliola said.
"If we keep them long enough they'll form combinations as we've seen with [Joey] Leilua and Rapana, they're playing outstanding footy."
Soliola is recovering from a broken arm suffered in the round five win over the Bulldogs, and confirmed he won't be fit for Canberra's round 10 clash with St George Illawarra after next week's representative bye.
"It is probably a bit further back than that, I have to see the specialist around that time actually," Soliola said.
"If they're happy I'll move into more contact and ground work, which will be the final test.
"It's progressing quite well, the strength is coming back and it's getting a lot of movement and mobility into it."
SATURDAY
NRL Round 9: Penrith Panthers v Canberra Raiders at Carrington Park, Bathurst, 3pm. TV: Live on Fox Sports.
