Penrith hooker Api Koroisau says last year's State of Origin COVID-19 breach prompted him to stop drinking alcohol this season, a decision he credits for his strong form with the reigning premiers.
Koroisau was fined a total of $50,000 and suspended for two games for bringing a woman into NSW's 2021 State of Origin camp, in violation of the strict biosecurity bubbles that were in place at the time.
The highly-publicised breach threw Koroisau's Origin career into jeopardy and put a strain on his marriage.
The premiership-winner realised he had to make a change.
"I knew (alcohol) wasn't good for me and it never was," he told AAP.
"Any time I've ever gotten in trouble, it was when I was drinking.
"I learned my lesson when I messed up last year."
In his second stint at the Panthers, Koroisau is in career-best form and appears in the running for Dally M Hooker of the Year honours this season.
The 29-year-old has registered twice the number of try assists this season than in any previous campaign and the Panthers still have at least four games left to play.
Against South Sydney last week, he threw the pass that sent Liam Martin over for the match-winning try, helping confirm the minor premiership in the process.
In defence, Koroisau is averaging more tackles per game than anyone else at the Panthers.
"I'm at a good spot in my life with no drinking and I think it's showing in my footy too," he said.
"When I was younger, I was always (drinking) and everyone around me was.
"It was one of those things that was just part of life when you were playing footy.
"But stopping has been really good. You don't ever have those hungover days or wasted days where you can't really get up or anything."
It's not just the man himself who's been benefiting from the booze ban.
Koroisau now has more time two spend with his two daughters, aged five and three, when he's not helping the Panthers to plot their premiership defence.
"There's nothing better than getting to wake up and play with your children. You've got plenty of energy," he said.
It's been enough for Koroisau to declare his sobriety could stretch into the off-season.
"If anything I'll probably just stop drinking altogether," he said.
"I've just found you don't need to drink alcohol to have fun."
