After several weeks out of the game, North Queensland flyer Jeremiah Nanai is counting his blessings as he returns to the Queensland camp for State of Origin III.
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Nanai has appeared in just 10 games for the Cowboys this year after two separate stints on the sideline through suspension.
He made a successful comeback against Melbourne in early June, earning a tryscoring return for the Maroons' 32-6 win in game two of the Origin series, and has subsequently rediscovered the form that catapulted him to 17 tries and rookie of the year honours in 2022.
After the highs of last year, Nanai said dealing with a sluggish start to 2023 had taken its toll.
"It gave me a lot to think about," he told AAP.
"It was early in the season and we still had half the year to go. Turning things around was always the goal.
"I wanted to prove it to myself, so after that call (from Queensland coach Billy Slater) I was very emotional.
"I'm out here performing the best that I can and I hope to keep doing it. I'm very grateful."
When Nanai served the second, and lengthier, of his two suspensions, Cowboys coach Todd Payten was asked whether time away could benefit his young star.
Payten was forthright, saying the only way Nanai could turn around his form was through hard work on the training paddock.
"Jeremiah missing seven weeks in total, that last little block, we really went at him as a coaching staff physically with his high-performance stuff, and tried to strip it back," Payten said.
"He's got all the skill in the world but he sets his game up by just running hard and tackling hard and then the finesse side of his his game will come.
"He's done that really well since coming back after that second suspension.
"He's got plenty of class about him. He's just got to keep his feet on the ground and continue to work hard and just keep it simple."
Australian Associated Press
