Jamal Idris says a late pre-season move to Penrith has finally freed up his mind to allow him to return to career best form.
Idris burst onto the State of Origin scene as a 19-year-old in 2010, with NSW great Andrew Johns predicting he could be a key player for the Blues for the next decade.
Due to a string of injuries and an unsettled life off the field Idris has so far failed to live up to those lofty predictions.
But since his move from the Gold Coast to be closer to his mother, Idris has returned to becoming one of the NRL’s most damaging players, culminating in his man-of-the-match effort in Country’s 26-all draw with City at Dubbo’s Apex Oval on Sunday.
“It is funny, not a lot of people talk about it but if you are happy off the field you are going to play your best football on it,” Idris said.
“You don’t go into the game stressed, you don’t carry all this tension.
“The move has been awesome, I know my mum is doing fine, I don’t have it in the back of my head ‘what is going on’ and when I do worry about things, when I do stress she is there to calm me down.”
Country coach and former NSW assistant Trent Barrett backed Idris for a return to the Origin arena and after badly breaking his leg last season, Idris said he is starting to find his groove.
“That’s my eighth game back this year after nine or 10 months out,” Idris said .
“I’m just trying to get back in the groove of things.
“For you to break your leg and have screws and plates and all that put in, you basically have to learn to walk again almost.
“Origin is the pinnacle of football, it’s where you want to be, you want to play against the best and you want to test yourself every day.
“But in saying that, I want to be ready when I do play.
“I’m getting better but like I said, I was out for nine to 10 months.”