There is no other way to say it – Brian To'o just loves running into people, and the bigger and meaner they are and the more they try to belt him, the better.
The Panthers star has become one of the best wingers in the NRL thanks to his relentless appetite for carrying the ball from his own half. And along with James Tedesco and Daniel Tupou, he's set to give New South Wales an edge in the yardage battle Queensland will struggle to match.
"I love it. It's something I'm used to now," To'o said.
"I love running into big players.
"I represent all the little guys. Some people might be scared about what might happen but I try and show them if you work hard and put your heart into it, you'll be alright.
"I love those carries. I'll always put my hand up for them.
"Around 20s I stopped using my sidestep and decided to try and punch through, and it worked so I just kept doing it."
In To'o, Tupou and Tedesco, the Blues have three of the best yardage backs in rugby league and it could give New South Wales a serious advantage in the battle for Origin supremacy.
While Queensland's back line has plenty of firepower, and much is being made of the Maroons' plan to target To'o under the high ball, when it comes to work rate they simply cannot match the New South Wales back three.
Given how frequently Origin becomes a battle of metres, it is a major advantage for the Blues.
Maroons debutant Selwyn Cobbo has improved his yardage carries in recent weeks and currently averages 130 metres per game, but that is well in arrears of To'o (172 per game) and Tupou (166 per game), while Xavier Coates is way back on 94 metres per game.
Throw in Tedesco's yardage capabilities — he has run the second-greatest distance of any player in the competition this year — and it is easy to envision the three getting New South Wales on the front foot.
"Toops and Teddy, they're two of the best in the comp and it's an honour and a privilege to play alongside them," To'o said.
"We want to feed off each other's energy all night
"All the big boys work hard in the middle and they need the OBs (outside backs) to help them out, so I'm going to do it."
To'o is hell bent on improving this Origin campaign — his second — as the Blues look to win their fourth in five years under Fittler.
The 23-year-old had little trouble translating his good club form to the interstate arena in his maiden series, in which he crossed for two tries and averaged over 200 metres with the ball in hand.
"We want to go from good to great," To'o said.
"For me, I'm still grateful to be part of camp.
"I still feel like I'm new to the squad but I have a lot more confidence. I was a bit nervous at the start of things last year.
"Planting the seed, working hard week in and week out, if we follow our process it takes us on that journey.
"It's something we always carry with each other, whether it's on the Origin stage or NRL, we try to build ourselves for those games and those moments."
