From Brisbane NRL discard to this year's player of the State of Origin series, it's been some journey for Queensland winger Dane Gagai.
The 26-year-old, who was released by the Broncos in 2012 for disciplinary reasons, became the first winger to win the coveted Wally Lewis Medal after his impact in Queensland's 2-1 series win over NSW.
Gagai may not have replicated his double try-scoring heroics from the game two win in Sydney in Wednesday's series decider at Suncorp Stadium but he was again vital to the Maroons as they charged to an imperious 22-6 win.
He made the most running metres (169) of anyone in a Queensland jersey, often coming off his wing to help out the Maroons' forwards with some carries in the middle.
The Wally Lewis Medal win caps a remarkable turnaround for the once-troubled Gagai, who has now played seven Origins, winning five of those matches and having a role in three straight series wins.
"It means everything, this is going to be a memory that I'll never forget," Gagai told AAP.
"A memory that I'll treasure for the rest of my life ... I'm humbled and blessed to get this award."
Gagai will now return to wrap up his time with NRL club Newcastle before a switch to South Sydney in the off-season.
While Gagai has used the opportunity given to him by the Knights to establish himself as one of the game's best wingers, it hasn't been a successful time for the club as a whole.
Gagai says he just wants to wrap up his time at Newcastle well and give long-suffering Knights fans something to cheer before the end of the 2017 campaign.
"Whatever jersey I'm wearing at the time, that's who I'm playing for," he said.
"That's who I'm giving my all too. We've still got another six games or so left with the Newcastle Knights and when I get back there I'll be giving my all for them."
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