Loyal Liam Wright's personal motivations were enough to keep him at Ballymore despite the Wallabies captain incredibly missing a Rugby Australia top-up on his latest Queensland Reds contract.
The flanker is eyeing a return for November and December's Spring Tour after a shoulder issue in July forced an early end to his first Test as skipper.
Wright had won over new Wallabies mentor Joe Schmidt with a terrific season at the Reds, bolting from the blue to lead in the coach's first game in charge.
He came off in the second half of a win over Wales for what was first thought to be a minor injury.
But he hasn't played since, Wright first having biceps surgery to improve his range of movement before another setback forced him to recalculate his rehabilitation and instead target the four-Test European tour.
Schmidt's immediate endorsement of Wright, on the periphery at best under previous coaches Dave Rennie and Eddie Jones, was not enough to win the player a top-up from the national body that had been afforded to others yet to play a Test.
Wright re-committed anyway, saying he has unfinished business for state and country.
"I've made the decision to stay in Australia and Queensland because there are things I want to achieve personally with these teams and I couldn't be happier committing for the next 12 months," he said on Monday of his decision not to contemplate a lucrative overseas move.
"I just love being here (at Ballymore); it's a great place."
Wright said he'd remained in close contact with Schmidt while injured, discussing tactics, selection and opponents in a sign the backrower remains firmly in the coach's leadership plans.
Australia were thumped by a record margin in a 67-27 Argentina loss that followed a gritty defeat of Los Pumas a week earlier, while they struggled to make a dent in two home Test losses to South Africa.
But Wright insists there's been growth, particularly in his position after injury to Reds teammate Fraser McReight allowed Carlo Tizzano an opportunity.
McReight is back in the squad ahead of Saturday's Bledisloe Cup while Wright will avoid contact until his shoulder is fully strengthened in a bid to face England at Twickenham on November 9.
"I put a lot of pressure to get back as soon as possible but there's been quite a few setbacks," he said.
"I didn't get to soak in and enjoy the week that was; being able to captain the boys, I didn't get to revel in that as much as I'd like.
"I want to come back and give myself the best shot to earn a jersey again and make the team as good as we can be."
