Brian To'o, a standout player for the Blues at 35 years old, is set to make a significant impact in Origin II.
To assess To'o's standing in New South Wales Origin lore, one can reflect on Game I.
Despite being regarded as one of the finest wingers in Blues history, his performance fell short of expectations.
With three errors in the first half, it was a stark departure from his usual excellence.
Fans, often ready to criticize their own, reacted not with anger but with disbelief.
While mistakes can occur with any player, To'o is not one usually associated with such errors, and he continues to reflect on the match weeks later.
"There were some early errors that really affected the boys in that first half," To'o said.
"You need to have the same mindset daily, putting the team first and your family first, to get through those hard times."
"You have to be willing to do anything for your family and these boys are my family as well."
"I needed to reconnect with myself to be strong in the second half and that's what I did."
After overcoming his early setbacks, To'o not only regained his form but also concluded the game with impressive stats, amassing 185 metres and 10 tackle busts, the highest for either team.