Koroisau to break Wests Tigers' NSW Origin drought

Every other NSW-based side has provided at least two Origin representatives since the 2017 decider, when Tigers duo Aaron Woods and James Tedesco played for the Blues.

Both men left the club the following season, consigning the perennial underdogs to more than five years in NSW Origin purgatory.

Conventional wisdom has long held that an NRL side's form affects its players' Origin chances.

Between 2018 and 2022, Penrith provided 10 different NSW Origin players, who amassed 52 caps between them, while Josh Addo-Carr's omission from last year's series was in part put down to receiving fewer opportunities in a struggling Canterbury side.

Three-time Origin hooker Koroisau admitted a call from NSW coach Brad Fittler was the furthest thing from his mind when the Tigers began the season on a seven-game losing streak.

"There were no thoughts of Origin at that time," Koroisau told AAP.

In the four weeks since, the Tigers have upset reigning premiers Penrith, edged out St George Illawarra for another win and racked up their highest-ever score in the 66-18 drubbing of North Queensland last week.

Ironically, Koroisau believes his single-minded focus on the Tigers was what eventually earned him hooker duties for the series opener on Wednesday night.

"I'm the captain so my responsibility was based purely on the Tigers team, which I think has worked out well for me," Koroisau said.

"If you play good enough for your club, it usually gives you the best chance (of Origin selection)."

Koroisau has been joined in camp by barnstorming Tigers teammate Stefano Utoikamanu, the Blues' 19th man for Game I.

The prop forward was selected on the expectation he would not play in Adelaide, but when Payne Haas limped off the field at training with an ankle issue on Friday, his chances increased.

Regardless, Utoikamanu has been signalled as a future Origin player by Fittler, who also selected him in the extended squad for the third game of the 2021 series.

"The main thing that I took out of (2021) was that you have to be confident in yourself and be confident that you've prepared well for the game," Utoikamanu told AAP.

"It's hard, I'm a bit shy and there are so many freaks here.

"I was around Junes (Junior Paulo) and Payne (Haas). They're two big things and they're both freaks. I try to learn as much as I can."

Utoikamanu predicted that if the Tigers continued their winning ways, they would not need to wait another 2150 days to produce more Blues representatives.

"Out of our last four games, we've won three," he said.

"We've looked pretty good in most of them. If we start to win a lot more games, you'll probably see a few more Tigers players in here."

Australian Associated Press