2 days ago
State of Origin series could be making of New South Wales prop Max King
He might have made his State of Origin debut a few weeks back, but Max King still can't believe he's here. If he had his way, the idea of Max King, New South Wales player, would never really sink in.
"Coming into camp the big thing for me is the gratitude of being here. The first one I'd go back to my room every day and think, 'Wow, I can't believe I'm here.' I'd look at my training gear and couldn't believe I was wearing a Blues shirt," King said.
"I don't want to lose that. I don't want this to be normal. I want [at] every game to be able to reflect and think how cool it is that I'm selected."
Right now, King is on the run of his life and there is no telling where it could end.
After his successful Origin debut, when he ran more than 100 metres and made 21 tackles without a miss in a handy Blues win, he has not only been recalled for Game II but pitched into the starting side to replace the injured Mitch Barnett.
"One thing Laurie [Daley] did say is, 'Just because you're selected doesn't mean you're an Origin player. What you do with that selection defines whether you're an Origin player,''" King said.
It was a test for me, and it was to prove to a lot of people but it was to prove it to myself that I am an Origin player and I do belong there.
"I'm close with my faith and I felt like God had pulled a lot of the strings to get me there and I knew that He wouldn't take me to this platform and leave me there to have a shocker and drop the ball six times and miss 10 tackles.
"It's a big thing to get recalled, but to get recalled and promoted is even better. It just keeps going up and up for me.
"It's not under great circumstances with Mitch Barnett [getting injured] — and he did a great job in Game I.
"That's the goal: To play a Max King game but model it off what he did and set a platform for the boys."
The Blues ruled Lang Park through muscle, strength and bone in Origin I, with Barnett, Payne Haas and Isaah Yeo dominating the early exchanges and King bringing more of the same once he came on.
It wounded Queensland's pride and caused a reshuffle of their whole forward pack. As a result, King is expecting the Maroons' most ferocious effort of the series next week and he cannot wait for it.
"Starting the game is fantastic and a great experience for me because we'll see the best Queensland side we've seen all series, especially in that first 20 minutes, and it's another chance to prove to myself that I belong here," King said.
"[It is a] baptism by fire, I guess, going straight into the belly of the beast."
Origin II marks the midpoint of what has already been a career year for King. He's the most important middle forward for Canterbury's premiership charge and, while he was already in the best form of his NRL tenure before he played for the Blues, the best could still be yet to come.
In his sole NRL appearance between Origin I and II, King ran from 229 metres in the Bulldogs win over Parramatta — the second-highest total of his NRL career.
It is proof that Origin can be two things at once: both a career highlight and a propulsive force that pushes a player to even greater heights.
"Coming back to clubland and having that confidence that I do belong here, it elevates yourself," King said. "You want to lead more."
"Growing up, if there was one thing I lacked a bit in my career it probably was confidence, believing that I'm that guy.
"It's probably tied in with my humility, but coming back I could feel that confidence and I think it could only benefit my game."
If the Blues were to wrap up the series it could only be the start of King's accolades for 2025.
The Bulldogs are second favourites for the premiership and a successful Origin campaign would put King firmly in the frame for a spot on the Kangaroo tour at year's end. That would see him join his grandfather Johnny as an Australian Test player.
Given King thought breaking his six-year NRL try-scoring drought a few weeks ago would be the highlight of his year, it's a heady possibility. But after what's happened recently, anything feels possible.
"It started off with me scoring tries, which I couldn't believe, and then I was in Origin," King said.
"The tour is far down the road and I don't want to think about it too much, but representing Australia would cap off the year.
"I don't want to say it's a dream come true because my dreams are already coming true."
