It took another trip back into NSW camp to make Penrith star Jarome Luai feel at home at State of Origin level.
The five-eighth made his Origin debut in the first two games of last year's series, helping the Blues wrap up victory before injury ruled him out of the dead-rubber loss to Queensland.
Luke Keary and Cody Walker were Brad Fittler's preferred five-eighths in 2020 but Luai's chemistry with Penrith teammate and halfback Nathan Cleary made the Panthers No.6 a walk-up starter.
In his 77-game NRL career Luai, 25, has already won an Origin series, a grand final and a minor premiership, but said it wasn't until this week that he felt he belonged.
"I definitely felt at home coming into camp this time," he told AAP.
"It helps that there are a lot of Panthers boys so not much changes for us in how we act. Last year definitely helped my confidence.
"I grew up watching Origin and looking at the players who played in that arena, they were the best. And I didn't really think I'd be one of the players to pull on a sky blue jersey.
"It's happened pretty quickly from coming into first grade - this is my third full year of NRL - and I still feel like I'm learning a lot and it all feels pretty new to me."
Luai's impact last year at Origin level was instant, he starred in the side which earned NSW a record 50-6 win over Queensland in the series opener in Townsville.
One of the enduring images of game one last year was Luai standing over the top of dejected Queensland forward Felise Kaufusi, with the NSW playmaker screaming in exhilaration after a Blues try.
That photo irked the Maroons, but Luai is happy to give as good as he gets.
He thrives off the mental battles and said he was primed for some retribution - verbal or physical - when the Blues defend their crown in Sydney next Wednesday.
"Dane Gagai was pretty heated (in my first game), he's a veteran in that arena and I think he was trying to test me out because I hadn't played that many games," he said.
"He (Gagai) was just really aggressive in the tackle and trying to rough up my play-the-ball. It's all about competing in the Origin arena.
"You want to do all you can to win and any way you can get under the skin can only help your team."
