Vete hopes to help instil a Melbourne Storm-style ethos at new club Hull KR

After some visa difficulties, the Tonga prop has now arrived in the UK and started training with the Super League club who finished bottom last season.

It is a far cry from Melbourne who lifted their third NRL title in nine years in November.

Given some injuries and the quality in Storm’s ranks, Vete only managed eight first-grade appearances in two-and-a-half years with them but it still proved one of the most illuminating periods of his life.

He said: “The main thing was them not being satisfied with where they’re at. Players weren’t satisfied with their form, the accolades that come off the back of their form, playing international or State of Origin.

“Everybody was just hungry. It was eye-opening seeing guys like Jesse Bromwich, Dale Finucane, Cameron Munster and Cameron Smith trying to get better.

“They’ve been at the top of their game for a very long time and it made me want to get better every day, not waste sessions and try and soak up as much as I could from the coaches.”

Vete, 28, is just the sort of character Robins coach Tony Smith has wanted to bring in to augment his side. He did not take part in any of Storm’s play-offs run but insisted simply training with them was invaluable.

“A lot of us only played a few games but we did a lot of training against the team,” added Vete.

“There was no reserve grade to go back and play and a lot of the boys played one game all year. About five didn’t play at all.

“They were just training the whole year, turning up and trying to make the NRL boys better.

“It felt like a whole squad accomplishment and that’s how we were embraced by the one to 17 that played; they were saying our group was so special.”

Vete hopes to be fit and firing for Rovers’ pre-season friendly against Castleford Tigers on March 14. On arriving atKR, he said: “It’s a massive relief as, at one point, I didn’t think they’d be able to get me a flight over with what’s happening. Things are changing all the time. But the boys here are looking slick.”

He added: “The longer my visa was taking the more nervous I was getting.

“But it’s such a relief to be here now.

“The positive out of it was my son was born in the middle of December so that gave him a bit of time to get strong and healthy before we left New Zealand.

“I spoke to Tony about it and just things like six week vaccinations.”

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