For the last few weeks all the headlines have been about Kalyn Ponga versus Reece Walsh but the real story was flying under the radar. The selection of David Fifita after two years in the wilderness ranks as one of the biggest comebacks in Origin history.

This time last season Fifita was struggling to make the Titans run-on side let alone snare a Maroons jersey. The way he has turned his career around is a tribute to him and the Titans coaching staff. Watching him this season, and especially over the past two rounds of the NRL, it is hard to believe the wrecking ball back rower wearing number 11 is the same lazy, disinterested player who drove Titans fans to distraction in 2022.

Even in a losing side, as the Titans were against the Bulldogs and Knights, he hasn’t dropped his bundle and gave the opposition on the left edge nightmares for the full 80 minutes in each game. His 90 metre try against the Knights showed amazing pace for a such a big unit, and the way he barged his way through three Bulldogs to score from close  to the line on Sunday was power and determination personified.

His detractors - and during his lowest times at the Titans there were many of them - would say ‘well what do you expect for a player earning over $1 million a year?’ and it’s a fair comment. Players on huge money should produce huge performances but it doesn’t always work out that way. The likes of Nathan Cleary, Mitchell Moses, Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt have settled into the ‘Millionaires’ Club’ without too many issues. Others like Ash Taylor, Luke Brooks and Fifita have, at times, struggled to cope with the pressure their paycheque has brought.

It may be no coincidence that Fifita’s recent good form has come after it was revealed he had taken a pay cut to re-sign with the Gold Coast next season, rather than earn more with the Raiders or Dolphins. Nor is it coincidental that he has been more focussed on his game since a meeting with Billy Slater early in the season. The Maroons coach gave him a list of areas he wanted him to work on if he was to regain the Origin jersey he last wore in Game 1, 2021 and Fifita, once considered immature and uncoachable, not only listened, but responded.

There is no question that he needed some luck to get the nod from the Queensland selectors with suspensions, injuries and a retirement opening the door, but Fifita earned his chance the hard way. There is still a long way to go in this Origin series, but even before the opening whistle one Maroon is already a winner.