"He wouldn't regret it,'' said the tall Cronulla Sharks second-rower, who could be heading for World Cup selection in the New Zealand squad, the way he is playing.

"I know from my experience as a Mormon how rewarding it was for me, going on my mission and doing something so constructive.

"The poverty I saw was unbelievable.''

Setu, the younger utility forward trying to win a regular spot in the St George Illawarra 17, is torn between his Mormon faith and carrying out his mission, now, and remaining in the Dragons ranks.

Anderson's mission was in the Philippines, tending to the poor for two years up until 2005. Unlike Setu, he wasn't an NRL contracted player at that stage, although Brisbane coach Wayne Bennett had him "pencilled in''.

It was to Anderson's credit that when he returned, the former Auckland outside back won a contract with the Broncos, before moving to the Sharks to further his career in 2007.

Mormons around the world are encouraged to take up their mission between 19-25 years.

Anderson, now 24, was not fully prepared for what he saw in the Philippines, working alongside a Mormon companion.

"It was real third world conditions,'' he recalled, resting an ankle injury at a Sharks training session this week.

"We were teaching the locals about Jesus Christ, and the local villagers held their faith in the midst of absolute poverty.

"We lived and worked alongside them, in the rice fields, we helped build homes and other things for them ....it was very, very hard work.

"But despite that, I now realise that I would have regretted it if I had not done that mission.''

Lagi Setu, like Anderson from Auckland, admits he may walk away from his rugby league career. Setu's brother Rota, a former lower grader with St George Illawarra, is already undertaking his mission and the pair keep contact through letters.

Setu also regularly sees fellow NRL star, Parramatta's Krisnan Inu, at church.

"All our lives we've been taught that everything is possible through God,'' Lagi said.

"It wasn't the right moment for [Rota] to come and play what he likes. He wanted to put the Lord first in front of everything.''

Off-contract this year, Setu is undecided about whether he will join his brother, away from the game they love.

"I won't say I am and I won't say I won't but there will come a [time],'' Setu said.

"My dad used to say that if you can't go on your mission you can do your mission as a footy player by setting an example to the boys.''

A move back home to Queensland is tempting for Setu, who joined St George Illawarra as an Australian rugby union schoolboy and was likened to former Australian player Gorden Tallis for his ability to destroy defensive lines.

"There are discussions with clubs but I like to focus more on what I'm doing,'' Setu said.

"I haven't played many NRL games this year so the main thing is to get on that paddock and play footy rather than sort out contracts.''

Aged just 20 and a 2007 Junior Kangaroo, Setu is eligible to play in the under-20s comp and has spent time in the Toyota Cup.

"Coming from playing union back at school [league] was pretty tough,'' the former rugby flanker said.

"Your flanker is more like your edge player and in league second-rowers are your edge players, the difference being you get to use more skills as a backrower in league.''

His eagerness and youth have often led to poor defensive reads and mistimed collisions.

"It isn't like school footy where you can put a shot on when you want to and run holes and break the line at any time,'' Setu said.

"Browny [coach Nathan Brown] told me a story about the old bull and the young bull ... that there is a time in the game where you can go for a hit and a time where you've got to play solid.''

Anderson, meanwhile, says it is up to Setu and other league Mormons what they eventually decide about their mission work. He is now more occupied with work in the shire: around his home with his wife and young child and an integral member of the Cronulla Sharks.

"Things are going well for me since `Sticky' [coach Ricky Stuart] asked me to move from the outside backs last season,'' he said. "I'm doing more work, seeing more ball wide of the rucks and I just love it.'' Having helped to build homes for the poor, he's now more than happy helping build premiership plans for the Sharks.