When Canberra second-rower Hudson Young returns to the NSW Blues side in the future, you can be sure he will thank Australia coach Mal Meninga.
The on-fire Raiders forward, in line for a State of Origin recall, was dropped after game one of last year's Origin series after coming off the bench in the 38-10 loss to Queensland.
His good form was recognised by Meninga, who picked him in all three Pacific Cup matches at the end of the year, including the 20-14 final win over Tonga, where Young played second-row with distinction.
Raiders legend Meninga is a proud Queenslander who dominated the Origin arena for 14 years for the Maroons. He has no love for NSW, but he does have great care for all players and wants the best Kangaroos side possible.
Young scored his third consecutive try-double in a starring role for the Raiders in their 30-20 win over Gold Coast on Sunday.
He said Meninga's faith in him had been crucial in his own quest to force new Blues coach Laurie Daley to pick him for this year's series.
"The amount of confidence I got out of that Australia camp and being around those players, and Mal putting so much belief into me, just made me believe in myself," Young said.
"I'm so grateful for the opportunity that Mal gave me.
"I am really keen (to play for NSW again). It's where I want to play and I know that I'm good enough to be in that arena. Hopefully Laurie puts faith in me and I'll repay that.
"We had the (Blues) camp at the start of the year and Laurie just said to go out there and play your best footy for the Raiders, and that's what I'm trying to do.
"Since you can walk and know what footy is, you just want to play for the Blues. I've had the chance to do that and it just gave me that fight and want to get back in there and represent the state and the people."
Young has his work cut out to dislodge incumbent NSW back-rowers Angus Crichton and Liam Martin from the side to play the series opener on May 28, after the Blues won last year's series. Young can't do any more than he is.
Young said former Canberra great Daley had done some work with him at the Raiders and reinforced the legacy of the club. The 26-year-old said he wanted to honour the No.11 jersey and do great forwards such as David Furner and Bradley Clyde proud.
Young joined Manly and NSW back-rower Steve "Beaver'' Menzies as the only forwards to have notched two tries in three games in a row.
"I've met him a few times. Beaver was a great of the game," Young said.
"I would never compare myself to someone like that.
"He's done everything in the game, so it's pretty cool to score back-to-back tries like him. Hopefully the tries keep coming."
