Sydney Roosters star Blake Ferguson admits his State of Origin dream is fuelled by the pain of missing out on New South Wales' breakthrough series win in 2014.
Ferguson is widely tipped to keep his spot on the Blues wing following a strong start to the year for the Roosters, which he continued with a 177-metre, try-scoring effort in Saturday's rout of the Warriors.
However, after being part of the Blues' unsuccessful attempts over the past two years, the Roosters winger concedes his Origin career may be over.
"I've been incumbent for two years straight, so if they look to go somewhere else, I'm sure it'll have its merits," Ferguson said.
"For me, I just want to keep playing good footy and rip in for my mates."
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After the opening ten rounds of the season, Ferguson is averaging a competition-high 193 metres per game - almost 15 metres more than the next best in Cronulla prop Andrew Fifita.
He is also third in the league in post-contact metres with 649 - the only back among the top five.
But the 28-year-old has previously spoken about fears his publicised drinking session prior to last year's decider has resulted in his name being blacklisted for representative honours.
He remains hopeful that isn't the case, not least because he is still pained by the off-field incidents that forced him to sit out the only year NSW have lifted the Origin shield.
"I missed a year and a half through my own irresponsibility," he said.
"So I think for me, getting back and playing footy and getting the jersey that I've gotten is very special. Trying to hold onto that Blues jersey which is something that I'm looking forward to doing."
Ferguson could be one of six Roosters who could feature in the Origin series, with teammate Latrell Mitchell also in the mix to make his Origin debut.
Roosters captain Boyd Corder, who doubles as the Blues skipper, believes Mitchell has improved enough defensively to earn a crack against the Maroons.
"He's been really good for us all year and we know how dynamic he is with the ball. The thing that's impressed me most is the way he's been defending for us on that left edge," Cordner said.
"I've got all the belief and all the confidence in the world that if he gets chosen he'll do a really good job, but that's not up to me, that's up to the selectors."
