Panthers star Jarome Luai has declared he has unfinished business in the Origin arena as he chases a NSW recall.
The five-eighth was dropped from the Blues team for the third State of Origin clash last year, having been sent off at the end of Game Two while NSW suffered defeats to Queensland in the opening two matches of the series.
Luai entered 2024 desperate for a second chance with the Blues and has largely led Penrith this year, with halfback Nathan Cleary missing four games through injury.
He is currently in a battle for the NSW No.6 jumper with Nicho Hynes, Mitchell Moses, Matt Burton and Cody Walker.
Blues brothers will make it work
The 27-year-old admitted the way last year's series played out was difficult to swallow and hopes new Blues coach Michael Maguire has provided a clean slate for his first series in charge.
"I didn't leave the jersey the way I wanted to," Luai said. "Especially after a loss, it hurts you and you want to make amends for it.
"If I am in that jersey preparing, that'll be a motivation for me to fix how I left the jersey. I'm not there yet, but once I'm in the jersey, once I'm in the side preparing for that week, that's when I'll draw upon those experiences."
The race for the Blues five-eighth position is wide open, with Luai's partnership with Cleary a key factor in his favour.
Hynes is currently equal first in the Dally M standings, however is also a ball-dominant half and there are questions about how he will combine with Cleary.
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Moses has plenty of experience at that level but has not played since round four with a foot injury and Walker has been below his best during a tough start to the season for the Rabbitohs.
Luai will line up opposite Bulldogs five-eighth Matt Burton when the Panthers hos Canterbury on Friday night, with the youngster boasting versatility and an ability to cover multiple positions.
Luai's Origin demotion was a rare blight on a glittering resume that has seen the five-eighth lead the Panthers to three-straight NRL premierships. He has also won a State of Origin series and played a key role in Samoa's run to the 2022 World Cup final.
While it was a difficult situation to process, Luai is confident it has helped him on and off the field.
"It was pretty tough," he said. "There was a lot of criticism around Origin and performing. That's the pressure of Origin, that's the arena but rugby league's a rollercoaster regardless.
"People think you're going well but I can always get better and that humbles me and keeps me grounded. That's what it's about, it's about when you're up high, not staying up too high. When you're low, you're not too low. You've got to find a medium here, keep yourself balanced."
Sitting alongside Hynes at the top of the Dally M standings is Penrith fullback Dylan Edwards.
The 28-year-old is in career-best form for the Panthers and has also rocketed into NSW calculations.
Standing in his way, however, is incumbent Blues captain James Tedesco.
While he'd love to play Origin one day, Edwards said he's content to focus his energy on the Panthers and allow representative duties to follow in the future.
"I'm focused solely on performing for my team," he said. "Those teams are a byproduct of us performing well as a team and me playing my role."