Angus Crichton has opened up on the emotional rollercoaster that saw him go from reserve grade to the NSW State of Origin team in the space of 10 weeks.
Few would have predicted Crichton's Blues selection when he was omitted from the Roosters NRL side for the opening two rounds of the season.
The edge forward, however, was one of the first players picked on Sunday night and never doubted his ability to return to the Origin arena.
"I'd always back myself and know I'd be able to get back here," Crichton told pan66.com. "It's pleasing to be here now having worked the way I have to start the season.
"There were a lot of people writing you off, telling you you're not going to play NRL again. To be back here playing for my state, I couldn't be happier and I'm excited.
"There's no point coming here and losing, I just want to train hard, get a good connection with these guys and then win."
Crichton's first State of Origin appearance since 2022 comes on the back of the most challenging 18 months of his life.
The forward missed the first two months of last season after taking a break to focus on his mental health. He was dealt another blow late in the year when a knee injury forced him to miss seven games.
The challenges kept on building throughout the summer and Crichton slid down the Roosters pecking order ahead of their round one clash with the Broncos in Vegas.
Angus Crichton grabs a double
An appearance in reserve grade for the North Sydney Bears followed before he made his NRL return off the bench in round three.
From there Crichton has found some of the best form of his career despite constant speculation over his future.
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"It's simple, you've just got to focus on what matters and try to block out that noise," he said. "The people around you are really important.
"My partner's been great, my agent and my family have all been great. It's putting [the distractions] to the side and focusing on what matters and what you can control."
Off contract at the end of the year, Crichton is working through his options for 2025 and beyond.
A Roosters exit looked likely when the club signed Titans star David Fifita, however the forward's backflip has left the door ajar for a contract extension.
Crichton was critical of the communication from Roosters officials during the Fifita signing process, however he now admits he let his emotions get the better of him and has smoothed things over with coach Trent Robinson.
The forward has plenty of options for next year, with French rugby clubs reportedly interesting in signing the former schoolboy rugby star.
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For the moment, however, Crichton is happy to let his football do the talking and leave the contract situation for a later date.
"I'm not closed off to anything," he said. "I'd love to stay at the club but at the minute I'm pretty content in not forcing anything.
"I'm sitting back and seeing what comes across the table, then weighing it up, weighing what's right for myself and my family."