Jarome Luai joked his life flashed before his eyes after he had to be rescued from a wave pool at a NSW State of Origin recovery session.
In scenes reminiscent of Robbie Kearns falling off a horse and dislocating his shoulder in Blues camp in 1999, Luai had to be assisted from the water by a lifeguard during a surf session on Tuesday.
Running into the water with a board before the rest of his teammates on a dare, Luai was dragged out into deeper water at UrbnSurf in Sydney Olympic Park.
A lifeguard then had to toss the NSW five-eighth a floating device, before using it to pull Luai out of the water.
"My life flashed before my eyes out there," Luai quipped later.
"I almost died out there, so grateful to be alive.
"There's no beaches at Penrith, so we don't get much practice out there. I thought I would try my luck, but it didn't go well.
"I attacked it, a bit of a dare from the boys. It was a good laugh. Thanks to the lifeguard out there, he had to drive me back in."
The incident prompted UrbnSurf representatives to later stress to media Luai had not followed proper instructions where to enter the water, and safety was a priority at the venue with lifeguards on duty.
"All guests are required to participate in the mandatory safety briefing before entering the water and get in the water at the designated entry points," the company said in a statement sent to media.
Luai spent the next 15 minutes watching on from land, as NSW teammates attempted to learn to surf.
Noted surfer Connor Watson was the best of the Blues on the board, with Zac Lomax, Matt Burton and Cameron Murray also showing some skills.
Luai later returned to the water with a bodyboard, before receiving a second standing ovation from Blues players.
"I wasn't actually worried, just embarrassed more," the Penrith No.6 said.
"I can swim, I can float. I guess that is enough."
Luai said he planned to attack Queensland in the same way in next Wednesday's State of Origin decider at Suncorp Stadium.
The Blues are desperate to take a no-fear approach, with NSW having lost the past five deciders in Brisbane.
Luai will be at the forefront of that, thriving on the vitriol of a one-sided pro-Maroons crowd.
"I'm glad he survived ... I love where his head is at (with that fearless approach)," Watson said.
"He's massive for us. He's been doing such a great job for Penrith, really stepping up in that role.
"He's doing that for this team as well. His leadership and his energy he brings to games, training and the intensity ... it is pretty cool to see.
"We saw what he did in game two, I'm looking forward to running back out there with him."
NSW were due to head for the relative calmness of their Blue Mountains camp on Tuesday afternoon, before the team's first major training session on Wednesday.
