LeagueNews.co | Jess Malloy
Tom Trbojevic's dreams of donning the sky blue jersey for the NSW Blues took a hit as he failed to impress during Saturday night's showdown.
The Manly Sea Eagles sensation was thrust into the limelight following Latrell Mitchell's unfortunate foot injury, with many tipping him to fill the void in the State of Origin decider.
After a lengthy spell on the sidelines due to a hamstring injury, Trbojevic struggled to make his mark on the game against North Queensland.
In his first match back in nearly two months, the 27-year-old appeared to be running on fumes as he mustered a measly 70 run metres from 13 carries and 23 tackles.
As the Origin audition unfolded, it became clear that Trbojevic was not quite at the peak of his powers just yet.
While the door may have seemed ajar for him to seize an opportunity, a leading contender has emerged to potentially take his place in the NSW Blues squad.
It's back to the drawing board for Trbojevic as he looks to bounce back stronger and stake his claim for a coveted Origin spot.