Queensland debutant Beau Fermor once wondered whether he would ever get back to his best after suffering a second ACL rupture in 2023.
The 26-year-old Gold Coast forward, who played his junior footy at Dalby Devils, will come off the bench in the State of Origin series opener on May 28 as one of the form back-rowers in the NRL.
He was on the cusp of a Maroons debut when brought into camp in 2022 but a knee reconstruction the following year stalled his Origin hopes.
"Like a lot of other boys in this team, it hasn't been the easiest road and I don't think I would have had it any other way," Fermor said.
"It's made me into the man I am today and taught me a lot of lessons going through two ACLs, so to be here now, it makes it feel a bit sweeter.
"You look at Tino (Fa'asuamaleaui) and Rob Toia, they have been through similar things as well.
"It's a tough injury to come back from when you are sitting in a rehab room by yourself or riding a bike in the corner. You start to question if you will get back to the footy you played before or do the things that you would be able to do.
"It doesn't happen overnight, but luckily I got through a full season last year and haven't missed a game this year touch wood.
"I have that confidence back in my body now and that's starting to translate to confidence back on the field."
Fermor follows in the footsteps of other former Devils who wore the Maroons jersey with distinction.
"Coming from a small town like Dalby in Queensland, you see players like (the late) Carl Webb and Andrew McCullough who come from your town, played for your club, gone to your school and gone on to play NRL and play for Queensland," he said.
"I used to love the pre-game intro where they said their name and Dalby Devils. I was lucky enough to film that last night and I know how special that made me feel watching TV on Origin night and they said my junior club.
"It's special to be another one of those boys to come from Dalby and play on this stage.
"The phone call first from Billy Slater to say that you will be playing for Queensland is something I will never forget. It's a dream come true."
Fermor will come off the bench on debut and he's ready dominate like he does in clubland.
"I don't think Billy and the coaching staff would have put their trust in me if they didn't think I could do a good job here, so I'm confident in what I can bring as a footy player," he said.
