Newcastle centre Dane Gagai was overlooked for the Queensland team but his response to that disappointment has revealed his character and class.
The 32-year-old will be a vital cog for the Knights when they host the Sydney Roosters on Saturday night.
Gagai played 22 consecutive games for the Maroons before being dropped for this year's State of Origin series but was at his brilliant best in the 24-20 loss to Brisbane last week where he set up two tries and had a hand in another.
This season he has run a career-high 164m per game and boasts a tackling efficiency of 83.73 per cent, the second-best result in his 258-game career.
Gagai also has nine try assists in 12 games this year. If he continues that strike rate he will easily beat his best ever season result - 14 in 2021, a key statistic.
Former Maroons centre Brent Tate said Gagai could hold his head high.
"These times when you experience disappointment always reveal your character," Tate told AAP.
"The most natural reaction for all of us is to spit the dummy and throw your bottom lip on the ground and blame everyone else, but people with the good characters accept it and do their best to play good footy.
"That is exactly what Dane has done. He has been terrific for Newcastle. He has been mature about it and that is why he has played the amount of Origins he has."
Gagai may be gone from the Maroons side for now but he's certainly not forgotten.
"Gags is always in the conversation (for Queensland selection). He is a great player," Maroons coach Billy Slater said.
"We have all seen what Dane brings and I think he is playing some good football at the moment."
Knights coach Adam O'Brien said Gagai's quest to improve his defence had reaped rewards.
"During the summer he knew he had to fix up some areas of his defence and I have been real happy with him," O'Brien said.
"I was a little bit shocked that he didn''t get picked (for Queensland) but neither (Gagai or Kalyn Ponga) or a couple of boys that missed out for the Blues have kicked stones.
"They have committed to Newcastle and want to make something of our season."
Knights fullback Ponga was best on ground against Brisbane and has also not kicked stones after missing out to Reece Walsh in the Maroons team.
Ponga has since elected to sit out this year's Origin series to focus on the 13th placed Knights.
"I love Kalyn. I love what he brings to his footy team. I think he is a great person and I have a lot of respect for him," Slater said.
"It is just good to see him back playing footy. I was very honest with Kalyn leading into the first (team) selection and he is in a good place which is fantastic."
