Hull KR's Mick Vella isn't surprised captain James Webster has developed into the quality player he is today.
The pair played together at Parramatta four years ago and Vella could already see signs in the youngster that singled him out as a leader on the park.
Webster was playing second fiddle to Paul Green and Huddersfield's Chris Thorman under Brian Smith and realised he had to leave Parramatta to develop his game.
Now Vella is glad to be playing alongside the little general again and feels a lot of Rovers' success this season has been down to Webster.
"I remember Brian Smith telling me he wasn't the biggest, fastest, strongest or prettiest member of the squad," Vella told the Mail.
"However, he told me James had a football brain to rival any in the game.
"He told me he was one of the best at leading a team around the park.
"But he was doing it more from dummy-half than half-back.
"I always knew he would go on somewhere and enjoy success and he's done it here in England.
"He's getting much better than when I first played with him and the one thing I have noticed is that he runs with the ball in hand a lot more now."
Vella has played his part in getting Rovers off to a fantastic start in their first ever season in Super League.
Anybody thinking he has come over to England for an easy ride has been proved wrong with stellar performances in the wins against Wigan and Leeds in the last two weeks.
Vella is loving every minute of his new career in England.
"I've been happy with my own performances so far this season and that has coincided with the team playing well," he said.
"I'm getting more game time under Justin than I was at Parramatta.
"Against Wigan I played 52 minutes and against Leeds I was on the pitch for about the same length of time.
"If I get between 50 and 60 minutes most weeks then I'll be happy.
"The grounds are getting harder now and that should improve my game and also the team's performances."
It's no surprise Vella is one of Rovers' leading ball carriers and he feels the front row have been playing very well together.
The 28-year-old feels Rovers' blend of low risk rugby league has helped them win four of their opening five games.
"We haven't tried to offload the ball too often in games so far," said Vella.
"It's low risk football and then we try and kick long in order to keep the errors down.
"If we can keep doing that, we should win more games than we lose."
Warrington half-backs Lee Briers and Chris Bridge are using a hyperbaric chamber in their race to be fit for Sunday's home game against Hull KR.
Briers injured a hamstring and Bridge picked up a groin strain in the Wolves' 48-12 defeat by St Helens last Friday
The facility provides pure oxygen to the body, which accelerates the healing process.
