Stefano Utoikamanu is back precisely where he wants to be.
It’s been a long journey around the houses for the big forward to get back there but his hard work, belief and dedication will have paid off when he steps out into the State of Origin arena once more on Wednesday night.
On his debut, which occurred two years ago, he was unfortunately nothing but a footnote in a 32-6 Queensland procession as they claimed the shield in Game II.
The prop was identified as a prospect New South Wales could potentially build their pack around for years to come; yet, on his brief maiden appearance for his state, he was far from this.
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Stefano Utoikamanu tipped to ‘announce his arrival’ in the Origin arena
Utoikamanu was introduced off the bench in the shadows of half-time by former coach Brad Fittler as the Blues found themselves in a hole at Suncorp.
He was unable to turn the Maroons tide before the break, as the hosts headed into the sheds 10-0 to the good.
Utoikamanu was afforded just seven more minutes of the second stanza before he returned to the pine, with the Blues now staring down the barrel of a 16-point deficit.
He had managed six carries for 50 run metres to go alongside his nine tackles with one miss.
Fittler axed him from the side ahead of the third and final match and he was left to stew in what could have been his only 12 minutes and 35 seconds of Origin footy in his career.
It’s happened to plenty of NSW players before - one game and done.
The likes of Nathan Merritt, Keith Galloway and Tevita Pangai Junior forever confined to pub trivia answers.
"I’ve thought about it a lot," Utoikamanu reflected on his Origin bow this week while stationed in camp.
"I didn’t really get a real taste of getting in there. I played 12 minutes and it’s pretty hard coming off the bench, you’ve got to make an impact.
"If you don’t make an impact there’s not really any point in you being out there."
Utoikamanu had time on his side though and was convinced he wasn’t finished in the representative arena.
A subsequent unceremonious exit from the Wests Tigers has proved to be the correct move, with the booming prop making a new home for himself in Melbourne.
Under the tutelage of Craig Bellamy, his game has improved in ways that he strongly believed it would.
The 25-year-old is averaging 106 run metres per game in the NRL, while he is on track to record more post-contact metres and tackle breaks than ever before this season.
His defence has also gone up a notch, with just seven missed tackles to his name during 12 matches for the Storm.
When Mitch Barnett went down with an ACL injury after the series opener, Laurie Daley had no hesitation in promoting Utoikamanu from the extended Blues squad into the 17.
This time, it could be Utoikamanu’s time when he takes to the field at Optus Stadium with the two states in very different places from when he debuted.
NSW are in the ascendancy after a commanding win in Game I, while the Maroons are desperately clinging on to try and force a decider.
The stage is set for Utoikamanu to crash through the door and announce himself on the big stage.
"I think this could be the arrival of Stefano as an elite middle forward," Matty Johns declared on Matty and Cronk.
"He’s gone to the Storm and you can see him, bit by bit, improving and just doing those little things right. I’ve got no doubt that Laurie would have gone to Craig and asked him, 'Is he ready?'
"The fact that he’s picked him says that Craig said he is," Johns continued.
"It’s all set for him to go to that next level - him and Payne [Haas] in combination could be a beauty."