Brisbane prop Keenan Palasia has thanked coach Kevin Walters for getting his campaign back on track by dropping him mid-season.
"I needed that boot up the arse. All credit to Kev," Palasia told AAP on Wednesday.
The 26-year-old will be a vital cog in the Broncos' forward machinery in Saturday night's NRL preliminary final against the Warriors at Suncorp Stadium.
But his season was on the line after he was relegated to playing for the Wynnum-Manly Seagulls in June for four games.
Since regaining his Broncos position in the 24-16 round 18 win over the Dolphins he has been ever-present, running for more than 100 metres in each of the nine games.
In his opening nine appearances of the season he achieved that feat once.
"It is not as though Kev dropped me just out of blue," Palasia said.
"He had let me know what I needed to work on and how to do it. I listened to him and that got me back in the squad.
"I was a bit comfortable playing each week. Losing my spot in the team woke me up and made me work on my fitness and my motor.
"I just had to be confident in my own ability, which I wasn't at the start of the year when I was shying away from moments when I should have been shining.
"It helped winning four games with Wynnum and when I got my shot back in the NRL I had to step it up a notch. I felt like I did that."
Palasia had to fire to keep impressive props Corey Jensen and Martin Taupau out of the 17 for the finals series.
The Samoa international will join Gold Coast next year and has no regrets as he bids to leave Brisbane on a high.
"I signed at the Titans before the season started with the intention of winning a premiership ring as a Brisbane Bronco and hopefully taking that experience down to the Gold Coast next year," he said.
After finishing bottom of the ladder with the Broncos three years ago, the former bank officer said the club's 2023 title quest was "the challenge we all wanted".
"We came from a wooden spoon team to just missing the finals last year and now potential premiership winners," he said.
"To do that with all my best mates will be special."
