Mitch Barnett believes he would not have been picked as NSW's 18th man for State of Origin II if he was still playing for Newcastle.
But that's less a slight on his former club, and more a comment on the forward's personal growth since arriving at the Warriors.
Selection in the squad for the first two Origin games has been fitting reward for the 30-year-old, enjoying career-best form during his second year based in Auckland.
"I've just sort of changed a lot of things in my life and matured a lot," Barnett told AAP ahead of game two at the MCG on Wednesday.
Barnett joined the Warriors for the 2023 season aware he'd passed his use-by date at the Knights.
After weathering the coaching transition from Nathan Brown to Adam O'Brien, Barnett had become part of the furniture across seven seasons and 126 games.
Reflecting ahead of Origin II, Barnett admits the old version of himself would not have been in the picture for representative honours like those offered by NSW coach Michael Maguire.
He was content to hit markers, punch in and punch out.
"Not the way I was going," he said.
"Don't get me wrong, I really loved my time at Newcastle.
"I just think where the club was at and the people there probably didn't think I was the player I am. I probably gave them no reason to - I was probably a bit comfortable.
"Moving to New Zealand was getting out of my comfort zone. I don't know if I would have sort of matured the way I have if I'd stayed in Newcastle."
Barnett himself has been surprised at just how much he has enjoyed life as a Warrior.
He signed a two-year extension to remain at the club earlier this month, though had initially intended to leave after his first contract expired at the end of 2025.
"I thought I was going to do my original deal and either be finished with footy or get something back in Australia," he said.
"Then I got over there, worked hard and got along with 'Webby' (coach Andrew Webster) really well.
"I'm in career-best form, probably. I just thought, 'Why should I leave?'"
Barnett admits it would appeal to his underdog spirit to make it onto the field and become only the second Warrior to play for NSW, after Ryan Hoffman.
"That's our mentality for how we (the Warriors) play," he said.
But Barnett also knows that would require at least one teammate suffering a game-ending concussion.
That's not out of the question, though - Queensland activated 18th player Felise Kaufusi after Reece Walsh went down following Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii's high shot in game one.
"I sort of hope (I don't play) because that means someone in our team's been injured but obviously I want to pull on the blue jersey and run out," he said.
"I've just got to prep like I'm playing."
