Zac Lomax believes his State of Origin selection is not position-dependant, and he could still be making his NSW debut if not for his wing switch.
Lomax will achieve a lifelong dream of running out for the Blues in Wednesday night's series opener in Sydney, joining Liam Martin as the second Temora junior on NSW's right edge.
Lomax has enjoyed a career-best year at the Dragons this season, scoring seven tries and busting tackles for fun on the right wing.
But it has also been shrouded in drama, with the 24-year-old to walk out on the club and join Parramatta at season's end.
St George Illawarra had initially indicated Lomax's issues related to new coach Shane Flanagan's decision to play him on a wing, as opposed to in his preferred centre role.
Lomax has since denied this, adamant he is happy to play anywhere, and said he will detail the reasons for his exit once he has joined the Eels next year.
His selection on the wing for the Blues was another twist in the bizarre tale of his 2024 season, and arguably vindicated Flanagan's decision to play him out wide.
But the flyer is insistent there is a world in which he could have been picked even if he had not been moved to the wing.
"You never know (if I would have got picked)," Lomax told AAP.
"I pride myself on just being a football player that can play wherever. I love playing footy and I love winning.
"I play wherever and whatever is best for the team. I just like chasing the footy wherever it is and whatever side of the field it is. I just like competing."
Despite his impending exit, Lomax said the Dragons were moving in the right direction as a club and that progress had helped aid his selection.
He also detailed how his mindset had changed at the end of last year, creating a greater change in his game than any positional switch.
"At the back end of last year, I just wanted to just get involved a lot more," Lomax said.
"It didn't matter where I was playing.
"If you look at the back end of last year (at centre), it's the same brand of footy that I've been playing.
"It's about just competing and wherever the ball is, I just like being on the ball. That's when I'm enjoying my footy."
