Joe Ofahengaue got his NRL career back on track after heart-to-heart conversation with Wayne Bennett

JOE Ofahengaue has revealed a heart-to-heart conversation with coach Wayne Bennett was the catalyst behind his NRL resurrection.

Joe Ofahengaue looks to have finally got his mind right. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

JOE Ofahengaue has revealed a heart-to-heart conversation with coach Wayne Bennett was the catalyst behind his NRL resurrection.

Ofahengaue was one of rugby league’s brightest young stars, one of the 17 players to come within seconds of winning the 2015 NRL grand final for the Broncos and being earmarked as a potential Queensland State of Origin forward.

But his career came to a grinding halt last year when Ofahengaue was dropped.

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Joe Ofahengaue looks to have finally got his mind right. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt)

He managed 16 NRL appearances in 2016, but the impact the Tongan powerhouse once possessed seemed to have disappeared.

At just 20, Ofahengaue was questioning whether the hype was justified or he was just another one-hit wonder.

“It made me think I was an early bloomer and one of those players that just hangs around,” he said. “You can be there one day and the next day some young kid can be way better than you.

“When you’re in a happy place (after a strong 2015 season) you get comfortable and that’s what happened with me.

“I wouldn’t say it was attitude. It was me being comfortable in the position I was. A young player with a bench role.

“I didn’t think I had to be hungry. I didn’t realise there were players below me who wanted my spot as bad as I wanted it.”

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Ofahengaue wasn’t just battling poor form on the field. He had issues away from the game he does not go into great depth about. A few days after his 21st birthday he was in court pleading guilty to driving unlicensed.

The issues compounded his relegation from the NRL, forcing him to seek clarity from coach Bennett.

“It was some stupid stuff I was going through in my head and at home,” Ofahengaue said. “It was just me, man, thinking stupid things about football.

“I went and had a chat to (Bennett) and told him what I was going through and how I felt about it. We settled it out last year. I worked my arse off during the pre-season.”

Ofahengaue’s hard work paid dividends when he made his first NRL appearance of the season last Friday against South Sydney.

Ofahengaue in action for Souths in the Intrust Super Cup. Photo: Darren England.

He will be on the bench again when the Broncos face Penrith at Suncorp Stadium and is eyeing a berth with Tonga in next weekend’s Test against Fiji.

“I knew I’d get my shot one day and last Friday it was,” he said. “It was like debuting again. Hopefully I can restart again in my short career.

“As a player I have matured a little bit. What I forgot is I had age on my side. I have dealt with everything I was going through.

“I just have to stay happy and have fun. That’s what I keep telling myself. I’m just trying to enjoy footy now.”