State of Origin 2021: Recalled Maroon Joe Ofahengaue reveals Broncos pain

Recalled Maroons prop Joe Ofahengaue has revealed he never wanted to the leave Brisbane and why it hurts just to think about it.

Felise Kaufusi played a key role in Queensland’s series win last year. Picture: Brett Costello

Recalled Maroons prop Joe Ofahengaue insists he won’t waste his second coming as a State of Origin player and revealed he did not want to leave the Brisbane Broncos.

Ofahenague will make his third Origin appearance for the Maroons in next Wednesday’s series-opener at Queensland Country Bank Stadium in Townsville.

It has been nearly two years since Ofahengaue played his last Origin in Game Three of the 2019 series, the year he debuted for Queensland.

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He did not feature in last year’s post-season series after having a poor NRL campaign as the Broncos collected their first wooden spoon.

Ofahengaue, 25, did not taste victory in any of the 15 games he played for the Broncos in 2020 and started to question his credentials as a player.

He was then tapped on the shoulder by new Broncos coach Kevin Walters, who selected him for Queensland, and told he was not in Brisbane’s future plans.

Joe Ofahengaue paid the price for Brisbane’s horror 2020 season. Picture: Annette Dew

That prompted Ofahengaue to seek a fresh start at the Wests Tigers, where he has burst back to life and into the Queensland Origin team under new Maroons coach Paul Green.

Now, Ofahengaue has pledged to make the most of his recall to the Origin arena as the Maroons chase back-to-back series wins.

“I thought I gave it my best in the two games I played for Queensland in 2019,” he said.

“I don’t think I played crap but my form last year didn’t deserve to be here.

“Greeny called me (on Sunday night) and I didn’t have his number. I was sitting on the couch with the missus watching Netflix and a random number popped up.

“I’ve got bad reception in my house and I missed his call. I had to listen to the voicemail and it was Greeny. I thought f***. He said to give him a call back so I thought it must be important.

“He just wanted to congratulate me and said I’d been selected for Queensland. He told me not many people get second chances in Origin and I’m definitely not going to waste this one.”

Ofahengaue made his debut for the Broncos in 2015 as a teenager and played in Brisbane’s famous grand final loss to North Queensland.

His stocks were on the rise and he became an integral part of Brisbane’s forwards rotation over the coming years, playing a solid 24 games in 2018 before making the Queensland team the following season.

Joe Ofahengaue in action for Wests Tigers. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

But like many Broncos players, his form went off a cliff last year and Walters’ arrival to replace sacked coach Anthony Seibold spelt the end of Ofahengaue’s time at the Broncos.

Ofahengaue said he did not want to leave the club he had played 105 NRL games for.

“Not really,” he said when asked if he wanted to leave Brisbane.

“I wasn’t part of their plans, I had to move on. You’ve got to grow up fast in the NRL. It wasn’t the first time I’d seen something like that happen to a player.

“I had a lot of good heads around me. Ben Te’o and Darius Boyd gave me some advice about how it’s a business.

“We never talked dirty about the club. The way it was handled was probably the best way.

“(Walters) has said in the media that it’s not his roster. He was going for a cleanout so here I am.

“I hate speaking about it, it’s in the past. I’m happy where I am now. I’m not too bothered to be honest.”

The move to Concord was a big one for Ofahengaue and his young family but it has reaped rewards.

He has appeared in all 12 rounds for the Tigers this year and been one of the team’s better forwards, making the No. 13 jersey his own.

Ofahengaue will come off the bench for the Maroons in Game One and said he had rediscovered the self-belief that made him a representative player.

Joe Ofahengaue signs jerseys at a Maroons fan day. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty

“Last year I doubted my ability a lot because of the way we were going,” he said.

“I was mentally a mess, I’m not blaming anyone. It was just how it was.

“You ride the highs and lows. Last year we rode too many lows and it affected me mentally more than physically.

“It was the most I ever second-guessed my ability. Coming into the pre-season I had to remind myself I was an Origin player a year ago.

“My whole attitude towards footy has totally changed since I’ve been (at the Tigers). I don’t have any distractions. I hardly see any family so all I care about is my job.

“I’m not saying I didn’t care about it, but it’s my focus now. My routine is wake-up, footy, family, sleep.

“My main goal this year has been to get back to enjoying footy and if anything else came of it this year it would be a bonus.

“I’m so grateful to be part of this team and wear this Queensland jersey. It means so much to me.”

Maroons score massive judiciary victory

Queensland’ tumultuous preparation for State of Origin I has received a huge boost with backrower Felise Kaufusi escaping suspension after he was found not guilty of a tripping charge.

The Melbourne forward was facing a one-match ban for his challenge on Brisbane’s Jake Turpin but will now be free to play in next Wednesday’s series opener in Townsville.

With the Maroons back-row stocks already thin and Kalyn Ponga, Harry Grant and Cameron Munster all battling to prove their fitness, losing Kaufusi, the Maroons most experienced forward, would have been a hammer blow for new coach Paul Green.

Felise Kaufusi with his son Orlando 2, back home in Bundaberg for a Maroons Fan day.

But instead the 29-year old will take his place in the back row alongside Titans powerhouse David Fifita.

Throughout the hearing Kaufusi maintained he was trying to rise to his feet rather than lashing out with his legs and was unaware Turpin had taken possession following an offload from Tevita Pangai Junior in the dying stages of Melbourne’s 40-12 win over the Broncos.

“I’m always thinking ‘next job’ when I’m defending. I was in transition to get up,” Kaufusi said.

“We practice different techniques in Melbourne and I’m in transition to get up.

“I’m bringing my leg up to get back on my feet. There was no contact made.”

Kaufusi’s counsel, Nick Ghabar, also maintained Kaufusi was unaware Turpin had possession of the ball.

The three man panel of Sean Garlick, Tony Puletua and Dallas Johnson agreed, meaning Kaufusi will be free to line up for his 10th Origin match.

His experience could prove vital - along with Jai Arrow, the Melbourne hardman is one of the only Maroons starting forwards with more than three Origin caps.

There was further good news at the judiciary, this time for Wests Tigers, as Luciano Leilua was found not guilty of a shoulder charge and is free to play against Penrith on Friday.

Originally published as State of Origin 2021: Recalled Maroon Joe Ofahengaue reveals Broncos pain