Awkward in the spotlight, Jake Trbojevic humble about Fittler's praise
In Brad Fittler's own words, Jake Trbojevic got NSW's "shit together".
When there was a State of Origin series on the line. When his captain was carrying a sore calf, and an even sorer head after a late head knock that made him ask officials if they had won the series at full-time. When his halves could barely get their hands on the ball. When his side were defending with just 12 men.
When the game just simply had to be won.
"You take a lot of confidence out of such a great coach and great player saying that about you," Trbojevic said.
Before he humbly deflects the praise.
"But it was a team effort," he added. "Everyone worked really hard in both games and they were team wins. That's what was so good. Everyone took a lot of joy out of it because everyone put in."
He started from the bench in the opening two games of the series – in which NSW surged to victory in Melbourne, and scrambled home in Sydney – but perhaps no man has been more influential in the Blues forward pack.
You take a lot of confidence out of such a great coach and great player saying that about you.
Jake Trbojevic
He was players' player at ANZ Stadium, perhaps Fittler's sentiments echoing in the ears of Trbojevic's teammates. Another similar performance and he might have a Wally Lewis Medal draped around his neck after the Suncorp Stadium finale.
Asked about his increased leadership in NSW's time of need, Trbojevic said: "I guess everyone [talks more] because there's so much on the line, you've invested so much and everyone wants to win. We had to in the last 10 minutes with Jimmy Roberts in the sin bin. I was so proud of how everyone could get through that and just kept defending.
"I was definitely surprised by how long I played in the first couple of games. I didn't expect that [many minutes]. I was happy to be in the side and play whatever minutes Freddy wanted me to play. I was happy to do [that]. It was a great test because it was so fast and it really tests you physically. I was really happy to get through it.
"[Now] we'd love to go up there and finish the series on a positive note and hopefully raise the trophy with a win. It would be pretty deflating if we didn't win."
Deflating too if NSW win for Trbojevic's Manly teammate and captain Daly Cherry-Evans, whose Origin exile is over for Queensland. For every bit of praise flung Trbojevic's way after game two, he was happy to pass it on to Cherry-Evans as he tries to nail down the Maroons No.7 jersey.
"He's been in great form the past couple of years and always putting his hand up, but they've picked great players," Trbojevic said of Queensland's much-debated Daly dilemma. "It's hard to argue with all the selections. But I am surprised [it's taken him this long to return to the Origin fold].
"He is such a quality player and he's been playing such great football, his hand is always up and he's putting his name in the mix. They've always picked quality players so I guess it's up to the selectors."