Canterbury fullback Will Hopoate hopes to have his NRL future sorted shortly, but that shouldn't spell an end to his blaze of form.
Hopoate has been one of the Bulldogs' best since returning from a serious facial fracture last month, averaging 188 running metres per game and setting up two tries in the four games since then.
But while outgoing Canterbury chief executive Raelene Castle recently confirmed they were in discussions with their off-contract star, Hopoate insists that's not behind what he claims is his best football since returning from a two-year Mormon mission in 2014.
Instead, he said it was the two-month injury break that allowed him to reassess his game that made all the difference.
"I felt like I had done back to back pre-seasons," Hopoate said.
"There's a few minor key changes on certain lines I run and strength and speed. I worked on that quite a bit while I was off.
"I think just putting these puzzle pieces together has helped me a lot to be consistent with it."
Hopoate will run out for the Bulldogs against Penrith on Sunday for just the second time since agreeing to forego his deal with the club that allowed him to skip matches on the Sabbath for religious purposes.
The devout Mormon will still attend church services in the morning, but won't partake in afternoon meetings or activities in the local community as a result of playing afternoon matches.
And while he admitted earlier this month he wouldn't be playing "in a perfect world", he said he had experienced no issues in his first Sunday match against the Roosters a fortnight ago.
"When I'm on the field I'm engaged on the field," he said.
"I'm trying to be mindful and present with where I am."
The agreement to play Sunday matches came as talks heated up between Hopoate's management and the club to extend his deal beyond the end of this season.
The Bulldogs are under salary cap pressure for 2017 given the arrivals of Kieran Foran and Aaron Woods, but the request to have Hopoate play Sunday games was seen as an indication the former NSW Origin representative will do likewise at the club next year.
"Things will be sorted out very soon," a coy Hopoate said.
"Personally I don't let it affect my football."
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