Idris sets sights on Origin

Emma Greenwood | 12:01am March 26, 2013

REJUVENATED Titans centre Jamal Idris has boldly declared he wants to reclaim a Blues Origin jersey after rediscovering the desire to succeed.

Idris admitted he was playing without goals or ambition last year when just getting on the field became a mission.

But surgery to correct a genetic hip condition has left Idris not only the fittest and lightest he has been in years but the hungriest for success.

"I feel a lot better out on the field," Idris said.

"Everyone says it's the extra effort. I have been doing extra fitness but it's a lot easier when you're not injured.

"I'm moving a lot better at the moment too and I'm feeling really fit."

Surgery to shave bone from his hips to better shape the socket has allowed Idris a greater level of lower limb flexibility, correcting the problems that used to strike after the 22-year-old had been on field about 50-60 minutes.

The constant battle against injury took its toll on the high-profile Titans recruit, who was under pressure to live up to his multimillion-dollar price tag.

"All you're doing throughout the week between games is just recovery, you're not even out on the field training with the rest of the boys," he said.

"Because you don't get to go out on the field and play with the ball and do any skills, you're just literally indoors, doing any kind of cardio you can.

"As soon as you get injured it takes a bit of spirit out of you," he said.

"You can't really push it. You go into games playing at maybe 65-70 per cent and it gets a bit frustrating.

"But when you're 100 per cent, there's nothing better than playing good footy."

The off-season correction left Idris feeling mentally, as well as physically refreshed.

"(Now), you're getting frustrated on a Tuesday, a Wednesday because it's so long in between games, whereas before you were getting frustrated on a Tuesday or Wednesday because you were stuck indoors doing cardio when the boys were out there soaking up the rays," he said.

The turnaround left Idris feeling so good he set himself some major goals at the start of the season, including adding to his sole Origin cap in 2010.

"I got to the point (last year) where I didn't have any goals, I was just playing on no ambition," he said.

"So I put it to myself that I want to play the best footy that I can so that I can hopefully get in Origin."

Idris knows he is not out of the Blues' thoughts.

He was one of three Titans invited to the NSW emerging Origin squad camp in Sydney in January and knows consistent form is the best audition he can make.

"(Origin) is definitely a goal this year. That will happen, I guess, if I keep playing good footy," he said.

Source: goldcoast.com.au