Reece Walsh was disappointed to miss out on Queensland selection, but the Brisbane fullback has also made an admission about why he was overlooked.
"I know the standards it takes to play for Queensland and I'm honest with myself. I probably haven't been living up to those standards," Walsh said.
"That's what makes it so great. Once you put that jersey on, you know what it takes to get back there.
"I'm a realist and I understand I haven't been upholding those standards, but it's about putting in the hard work at training and relaying that back onto the field.
"If I keep working hard in those areas, I'm sure the opportunity will come again."
Walsh, 23, missed out on Queensland selection in game one of the State of Origin series, with Kalyn Ponga preferred at fullback.
There was also no spot for him on the bench, where Brisbane teammates Ezra Mam and Gehamat Shibasaki were named but did not take the field in the 22-20 loss to NSW.
Shibasaki will miss the rest of the Origin series with a knee injury, and Mam has been demoted to the Broncos bench for Saturday night's home clash with Gold Coast.
There is an opportunity for Walsh to stake a recall claim and add to his five Maroons games. It was the corresponding match last year when Walsh had a blinder against the Titans to kickstart his remarkable late-season surge.
After Brisbane's four consecutive losses he said his focus was on resurrecting their season.
"It'd be nice to be in that arena and be amongst the Queenslanders again, but my full focus right now is playing good footy for the Broncos and working really hard here in this building. Whatever comes, comes," Walsh said.
"I feel like I'm working hard on my standards and the areas I need to improve in. I'm not a selector and I'm not the one who makes the call, so that's up to them."
Walsh's attacking statistics are down this year compared with his brilliant 2025, when he ignited a charge to the premiership.
He is averaging 121m, the lowest figure in his four years at the Broncos and below the 148m average of last season.
Walsh has six try assists in nine matches, once again below the strike-rate of the 26 he had in 21 games last year.
Walsh returned from a four-week absence with a fractured cheek and the Broncos have not won any of the four games since, although that is not their fullback's fault because his teammates have also not been in form.
He wore modified headgear until last week's 30-26 loss to St George Illawarra and appeared to be lacking his usual zip.
"I wouldn't say it's a confidence issue. I go out there with a blueprint for how I play footy," Walsh said.
"It was sore at times, but I've had the injury before and I understand it and can push through it."
The Broncos will wear their black NRL mental health round jersey against the Titans, which means a lot to Walsh.
"I think it's a conversation starter for people out there who might be going through something," he said.
"Whether that be on the field, off it, on a construction site or at school for young kids, it's really important that we spread awareness and the message that it's OK to be vulnerable and talk to your mate."
