Brad Fittler considers last year’s State of Origin opener one of the low points of his NSW coaching career.
The Blues mentor enters this year’s series - which begins on Wednesday night at Adelaide Oval - with a 3-2 record across five campaigns.
If he wins this year's series, Fittler will trigger a one-year contract extension with the NSWRL.
But his hopes of doing so rest significantly on the outcome of this week’s opener.
History shows the team who wins Origin I has gone on to lift the shield in 30 of the 41 three-game series.
It’s why Fittler knew he had made a clanger in Sydney last year when the Maroons triumphed 16-10 in the Game I.
"I don’t think I did my job that week really," Fittler told AAP.
"We weren’t in an attitude or a mood to do the important stuff.
"We didn’t win that at all. It all comes back to my job really.
"We hadn’t played there in a couple of years and to do that in front of a home crowd was disappointing, but that was all on me."
NSW were caught in the blocks by the Maroons, with Fittler bemoaning the Blues’ inability to control the tempo of the ruck.
Fittler's trusted adviser Greg Alexander has made a point of saying NSW were "too nice" in last year's opener.
Even though they had a convincing victory in Game II in Perth, it seemed the Blues were always playing catch-up with Queensland, who won the series - and the all-in brawl - at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
The change in Fittler’s demeanour was noticeable after that opening defeat and it was put to the NSW coach by one journalist that he was uptight, to which he replied: "Am I not fun anymore?"
Fittler has won admirers for his usually relaxed, happy-go-lucky demeanour in camps where earthing and breathing sessions have become commonplace.
But even his most-trusted allies have noticed a steeliness in his focus to win back the shield in 2023.
"I’ve seen a harder edge to Freddy," said Andrew Johns.
"There’s more emphasis on defence.
"Like myself, he is more attack-orientated but he’s had a really narrow focus of defence and the grind which isn’t the Freddy we all laugh and giggle at."
Fittler has clearly sought to learn from his mistakes.
Hooker Api Koroisau has played on the back foot at Wests Tigers all year and has the ability to start a team rolling with his guile alone.
Koroisau's deception should also allow Jarome Luai and halfback Nathan Cleary the time to work their magic.
Up front, NSW look a far more intimidating side with Canterbury prop Tevita Pangai Jr and Canberra's Hudson Young set to add a tough underbelly to the Blues' pack.
"It's about knowing the line and not crossing it and letting the team down," Young said.
"Controlled aggression is something good for the game and especially in this arena."
Grit, grunt, fire and brimstone are all vital ingredients to Origin success, but Fittler also has some of the most devastating backline talent at his disposal once more.
Latrell Mitchell's late withdrawal with a calf injury has forced a reshuffle but with Josh Addo-Carr and Tom Trbojevic back on deck, the Blues will be hopeful of inflicting some damage on the Maroons.
They did just that in Game I of 2021, thrashing Queensland 50-6.
"That was a special thing and we just cared about each other and worked hard for each other," Addo-Carr said.
"We were connected and I think that's why we won that series."
