SAMOAN man-mountain Mose Masoe will not be available to St Helens when they visit Warrington Wolves in the Super League 2014 opener next month.

The 20-stone prop, known as the Smiling Assasin, won over the hearts of supporters with his bonecrunching hits and rampaging runs while representing Samoa in Rugby League World Cup 2013 games at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

But Saints’ signing from Australian club Penrith Panthers has undergone surgery for an ankle injury and will miss the eagerly anticipated ‘derby’ with Warrington on Thursday, February 13.

Wolves’ own preparations for another title tilt have gathered steam this week, with 29 of their full-time players and coaching staff landing in Sydney for a three-week training camp.

A similar adventure in 2012 led to Wolves reaching their first Grand Final as well as lifting the Challenge Cup for the third time in four years.

Ten players are experiencing their first taste of Down Under camp life with Wolves, who have their own overseas star recruit Roy Asotasi linking up with them for the first time.

Shared training sessions with Sydney Roosters, Manly Sea Eagles, Canterbury Bulldogs, South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Bondi Rescue team are among the highlights awaiting Tony Smith’s men.