The door's open. And there's a Kangaroos jersey waiting on the other side. It's just a matter of whether Josh Papalii wants to step through.
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The Canberra Raiders enforcer has been dominating since his switch to the front row this season. Carrying on from his switch to lock last year.
So much so, he's a Queensland Maroons starting prop for next week's State of Origin opener.
It's a stage he's clearly comfortable on. Having starred for the Maroons in the past.
So much so, Queensland coach Kevvie Walters had already crayoned him into his line-up a month ago.
Which puts him squarely in the picture for an Australian recall at the end of the year. The Kangas have two Tests booked in against the Kiwis and the Tongans.
It's up to Papalii whether he wants to be there.
"Papa", as he's affectionately known, hasn't worn the green and gold since 2016.
Since before he was left out of the final Anzac Test - at Canberra Stadium in 2017 - for drink driving.
The 27-year-old opted to play for Samoa at the World Cup later that year and was unavailable for last year's Tests so he could marry his wife Masepa.
OTHER RAIDERS NEWS
But, as one of the premier big boppers in the game, he could be back there come October.
"If he wants to. He wasn't available last year, he made himself unavailable," Kangaroos coach Mal Meninga said.
"If he wants to I guess he becomes part of the selection process. Queensland's a good stepping stone for him.
"Papa loves the middle. He had a great year last year at 13 to be honest with you. There's no difference in the role in my opinion.
"He's a quality player, good bloke, good leader. He's started the year really well."
And if "Big Mal" needs an endorsement that Papalii's become one of the best props in the game he only has to ask Big Mal.
"I agree with that [he's one of the best middles]," Meninga said.
"The game is changing. Ricky has made the decision he wants more mobility through the middle and Papa resembles that really.
"He likes the middle, he likes the workload, he plays big minutes, he's got a good offload in him. It's the perfect role for him really."
Meninga has the luxury of waiting until the end of the season before he has to choose his team.
See how Origin goes, see how the finals go and then make a few calls.
But along with Papalii, he floated Jack Wighton, Jarrod Croker and Nick Cotric as Raiders possibilities to be in the mix later in the year.
Did Meninga think he'd be in this position 30 years after he wrote himself into Canberra immortality? Thirty years after bringing home the Raiders' first ever premiership? Thirty years after one of the biggest parties Canberra's ever seen?
You bet he didn't.
Meninga came to Canberra in 1986 from Souths Brisbane, after nine years in the Queensland police force.
But after his playing career came to an end with a third Raiders premiership in 1994 - a playing career that has seen him become an NRL immortal with 32 Origins for Queensland and 46 Tests for Australia on his resume - he "fell into coaching".
Five seasons in charge of the Green Machine, including a preliminary final, before he took over the Maroons.
And the NSW Blues will always rue the day.
After opening up with eight consecutive series wins, he dropped one to former teammate Laurie Daley, before reclaiming the Origin crown to bow out on top.
Then he got the top job, the Australian gig, and a World Cup crown later he's still in charge.
"I had no idea what I'd be doing when I was retired [from playing]," Meninga said.
"In those days you tried to plan for afterwards, but I sort of fell into coaching with the Raiders, which gave me good insight into that sort of area.
"Then I fell into the Origin job and because of the Origin job I got the Australian job. Fate took its place after footy.
"I'm one of the lucky ones, to be able to stay in the game and work in it. For me it's a blessing."
Thirty years is a long time to cast your mind back, especially when it's full of so much winning. Winning with Australia. Winning with Queensland. Winning with the Raiders. Winning with Souths.
But there was one memory that stood out. Probably explains all the winning that followed. He kind of had a taste for it.
And he put 1987 as the catalyst for it all. The year the Raiders made their first grand final. But lost.
It made them hungry. It made them believe they belonged at the top level. Even when no one else did ahead of the '89 decider.
And being part of history. That was the cherry on top.
"Winning it. There's no better feeling than winning the grand final, winning the premiership and bringing it home," Meninga said.
"For us, the first ever at the club. That's special."
NRL ROUND 12
Saturday: Canberra Raiders v Canterbury Bulldogs at ANZ Stadium, 7.35pm.
Raiders squad: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2. Bailey Simonsson, 3. Jarrod Croker (C), 4. Sebastian Kris, 5. Michael Oldfield, 6. Aidan Sezer, 7. Sam Williams, 8. Corey Horsburgh, 9. Siliva Havili, 10. Dunamis Lui, 11. Joe Tapine, 12. Elliott Whitehead, 13. Hudson Young. Interchange: 14. Tom Starling, 15. Emre Guler, 16. Sia Soliola, 17. Ryan Sutton. Reserves: 18. Ata Hingano, 19. Royce Hunt, 20. Andre Niko, 21. John Bateman.
Bulldogs squad: 1. Nick Meaney, 2. Christian Crichton, 3. Marcelo Montoya, 4. Will Hopoate, 5. Reimis Smith, 6. Kieran Foran, 7. Jack Cogger, 8. Aiden Tolman, 9. Jeremy Marshall-King, 10. Ofahiki Ogden, 11. Josh Jackson, 12. Corey Harawira-Naera, 13. Chris Smith. Interchange: 14. Rhyse Martin, 15. Raymond Faitala-Mariner, 16. Danny Fualalo, 17. Jesse Sue. Reserves: 19. Michael Lichaa, 20. Lachlan Lewis, 21. Kerrod Holland, 23. Adam Elliott.