The careers of Daly Cherry-Evans and Usman Khawaja have taken a remarkably similar path and the Queensland rugby league captain has drawn encouragement and inspiration from the Test batter's story.
The duo's careers have remarkable parallels, with both captains of their respective Queensland teams.
They have been axed from their respective teams, but fought their way back and achieved great success as better players and men.
Cherry-Evans, who will captain the Maroons in game two of the State of Origin series at Suncorp Stadium on Wednesday night, was a keen observer of Khawaja's innings of 141 for Australia in the first Ashes Test at Edgbaston, his first Test century in England.
"I love stories like Usman's, where people have been under adversity throughout their career and have to fight to get out the other side," Cherry-Evans told AAP.
"As much as I love watching him bat, the way he speaks about where he is at mentally is the most intriguing part of his story for me.
"He has found his happy place and what his zone is."
Khawaja toured England for the first time in 2013, had an unhappy Ashes series and returned to Australia considering giving the game away.
He worked his way back into the side but spent almost three years out of the team before forcing his way back in last year.
Since his return he has scored seven centuries in 18 Tests and is one of the first selected.
Cherry-Evans debuted for the Maroons in 2013, spent three years out of the team before returning in game three of 2018.
He has played every Origin match since and captained the side to two series wins. He is the first man picked.
Cherry-Evans, 34, has three children and 36-year-old Khawaja has two.
The Maroons skipper said the Queensland Bulls' captain's wise words about balancing family and professional life and feeling comfortable in his own skin had resonated.
"It is all connected," he said.
"Usman is really confident in who he is as a player and a person. Once you have that you have a great understanding of what your principles are, and it allows you to be yourself.
"That is when you hit your peak performance level and is something both Usman and I can relate to.
"All of that brings you to your nice happy place out on the field. When you just trust your instincts on the field, that is the sweet spot.
"You don't want to overthink your game, and it doesn't look like he is overthinking anything. He is just playing cricket."
Cherry-Evans is grateful that he too was able to find a way back into the Maroons side.
"I put myself under adversity. I didn't play good enough to stay in the team," he said.
"I made a few decisions away from footy which I don't regret, but they put me under adversity, and from there I clawed my way out.
"I earnt my jersey back and I earnt the respect of the Queensland people and I am so grateful for where I am now.
"Usman has not exactly done that the same way, but he has fallen out of the team and earned his spot back. He is one of the first picked now and that is a really nice feeling."
