Ropati is back in full training and happily declares his left knee as being at "100 per cent".
"Functionally it is very strong," Ropati says. "It gets a bit of pain sometimes but that is normal seven months after surgery. In terms of having the confidence to play, I am at about 90 per cent, which is ahead of schedule."
The final step will be learning to trust his knee in all contact situations: "There is always an unknown period in terms of the psychological factors. Your knee is good but you just don't trust it; now I trust it 90 per cent of the time. I'll probably practise my left foot step and do a lot more collisions and tackle situations than the rest of the team - because if I know if I've done the work, it will hold up in a game."
He admits the case of someone like Darrell Williams hovers occasionally into his thoughts. Williams was a brilliant attacking fullback or centre in the mid-1980s, naturally talented and sparkling on his feet before he tore his ACL in 1986. He morphed into one of the toughest defenders in the sport but was never able to regain his speed or step.
"It has crossed my mind but after so many injuries, I realise what has worked for me is to get out of that mindset," says Ropati. "I use training and repetition to kill the doubts. I've also gained confidence from other players and maybe medically and training-wise we are a lot more advanced than when Darrell was playing. It's a tough one to foresee but I know it is going to work."
Fellow ACL victims such as Brett Seymour, Jacob Lillyman, Isaac John and Tate have offered advice and Ropati is no stranger to the strains of surgery and the rigours of rehabilitation. He has had operations on his wrist, shoulder and elbow and battled compartment syndrome in his early years at the club. His last full season was 2005, when he played 24 games.
"Hopefully it has added a few years to my career," he laughs. "Bluey has mentioned that and I feel as mentally fresh as any time I have in my career. I don't usually like off-season training but I'm loving it."
He is also positive about the clutch of youngsters coming through at the club, encouraged that the Warriors are now able to retain the best of the bunch.
"I want to help them be as good as they can," says Ropati. "These [new] guys are raw talents. Bluey has told me to 'lead, just lead'. Guys like Manu [Vatuvei] understand what its like when you are young, you have a contract and think it is all rosy. But that is just the start of it and learning to compete at this level is the biggest thing."
As the club's longest serving player, Ropati is well placed to assess the impact of James Maloney's departure on the club: "I don't think it will affect us too much. He is a good player and we have really appreciated having him. He has also improved out of sight but Jimmy is one of those guys that has always expressed that he would like to go home. I'm glad we have still got Shaun Johnson and I think Carlos Tuimavave is a good No6 prospect."
Ropati made his debut in 2003 and will be heading into his 10th NRL season in 2012. The 27-year-old has played 130 matches (behind only Mannering and Micheal Luck in the current squad) and has scored 49 tries. Often underrated, he has solidity and attacking skill; brings out the best in Vatuvei and appeals as a defensive bulwark in a flair-packed left edge that includes Feleti Mateo, Johnson and Vatuvei.
"I'll probably be the only weak link on that side," jokes Ropati. "But seriously, defensively we need to be sound on our principles. The goal at the beginning of the season is to make sure we have set ourselves as a defensively tough team. I want to be able to lead in that defensive area on the edge. I remember Brent Tate used to lead on the other side and it lifted everyone."
