‘It’s all paid off’: Staggs battles his way to Origin jersey

Kotoni Staggs has been hovering in or around conversations regarding New South Wales and the state’s Origin lineup for some time now. There’s been plenty in his way though; off-field transgressions, Broncos struggles, and an MCL injury that left the young Blues star stranded on the sideline for a hefty chunk of last year.

In 2022, the Wellington star has done it. On Wednesday, he’ll play Origin.

“Freddy gave me the call, asked me how I pulled up [from the last Broncos game], then he said congratulations,” Staggs told media as the Blues’ State of Origin camp got underway this week. “I told him, I’m ready, I’ve been waiting. It’s good to be here… it’s a dream for myself, has been for a long time. I’m pretty stoked with it.”

When the series opener begins in Sydney in a week’s time, Staggs will be playing as right centre for Brad Fittler’s side. He’ll be inside veteran Daniel Tupou—another player who had an outside shot at selection—in the Stadium Australia battle, ready to fire.

There was a point, months ago, where Staggs had all but accepted he’d missed his chance.

The biggest thing was his freak MCL injury, which the Broncos game-breaker says was like “nothing else” he’d ever experienced. Sitting on the sideline, watching his teammates play without him and State of Origin chug past was “tough.”

But, he persevered. He pushed. And now Staggs has made it.

“It took me nearly 11 months, a long time. I knew I had to get back out on the field, and it took me so long,” he said. “It was a big injury. The whole time, I was just thinking ‘I have to move forward’ and do the right things. I had good people around me to make sure I could get back to where I am today. As I said, I’m pretty stoked with how it’s all gone.”

Perhaps the most impressive thing is that Kotoni has battled his way through a glut of strong options for the Blues. First picks Latrell Mitchell and Tom Trbojevic are injured, yes, but the 23-year-old has kept Stephen Crichton out of the starting side at very least.

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“There’s so many good players they could have picked,” Staggs admits.

Freddy Fittler pointed his finger at Staggs though, and gave him that life-changing call ahead of camp. Staggs had delivered, not least of all in silencing the rampaging form player of the competition at the time, Siosifa Talaki, among other deadly stars scattered across the competition—Bradman Best, Talakai, and even another of his Blues-spot rivals, Campbell Graham.

“I rang all my sisters and my mum, I spoke to all my uncles,” Staggs said of his call-up. “It was an emotional phone call and a very proud moment for myself and for my family. It’s been a long time, I’ve put a lot of work into myself, and [there’s been] a lot of hard days.”

Staggs will make his State of Origin debut for New South Wales on Wednesday, June 8.

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