Big NSW Blue Andrew Fifita's little Jay of sunshine

WATCH closely and you might see something special on Wednesday night. Keep an eye on NSW prop Andrew Fifita.

WATCH closely and you might see something special on Wednesday night.

Keep an eye on NSW prop Andrew Fifita. It might be after the national anthem, it might be after he scores a try.

Or maybe you'll see it after the Blues win the opening Origin match.

It's a message from a loving father to his son.

"I'll either tap the left side of my jersey near my heart and give it a kiss or I'll put my two fists over my ears to do the Shrek ears. My boy loves Shrek. Anything to make him smile," Fifita said.

The boy is six-month-old Latu Jay. His name is tattooed the entire length of Fifita's right leg.

If you thought Fifita's rise to Origin was special, his son has got a story, too.

The name Latu comes from Fifita's oldest brother, who was a "father figure" to the Blues prop and his twin brother, David.

"My mum and dad divorced when I was six and my brother, Latu, was the one there for us, so I named my boy after him," Fifita said.

Jay is in memory of the cousin of Fifita's fiancee, Nikki.

Wednesday night will mark the first anniversary of 20-year-old Jay's tragic passing.

"Every time I see little LJ with Nikki's family, it almost brings a tear to your eye," Fifita, 23, said. "It's a big thing for me on Wednesday night, it is for the whole family."

Fifita was bailed out of jail by his mother as a teenager and ran with gangs in Sydney's west before a move to Griffith saw him realise he could still make something of his life.

Back then, Fifita just wanted an NRL contract, but he was told by several clubs that he was too skinny. He whacked on the kilos and finally the Wests Tigers opened the door, only to have them close it again.

Is it any wonder, after just 33 matches for Cronulla, Fifita feels like Origin camp has been one big dream.

"I say to Nik every day, I'm waiting for it to hit me. It just feels like someone is going to come in and say you're out of the team," he said.

But who is willing to tell that to a 114kg powerhouse who has churned out more than 200m in his past four NRL matches?

This immovable force whose four tries this season is more than any of the Sharks' outside backs.

Asked how he would handle the occasion on Wednesday night, Fifita said: "I'm not one to show tears, but I'll probably be emotional.

"I'm not going to try and do anything different to what I normally do which is to grab the footy and run the hardest I can.'I'm lucky to have my Cronulla teammates, Luke Lewis and Paul Gallen, in camp with me. It's an advantage having them in the side.

"Playing with them week in, week out, knowing how they play, it's going to make me feel right at home.

"One of the main people I've always wanted to play with is Trent Merrin.

"I played juniors with Merrin and had some great battles, now we're playing together.

"I'll be happy just to get on there. So long as I get on that paddock. One run and I'm happy. I definitely know my family will be happy."

And that's what matters most to Fifita.