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Kotoni Staggs has been one of the NRL's most entertaining prospects for the last two seasons but injury has denied him a chance of playing State of Origin.

Kotoni Staggs was at the races when he got his call-up for a maiden State of Origin appearance and while he didn't back any winners on Saturday, the Brisbane centre is due for a change of luck.

Staggs has been close to NSW call-ups in the past but injury has always prevented him from winning selection.

In the final game of the Broncos' 2020 season he suffered an ACL injury which ruled him out of the end-of-year series and the following year's Origin campaign.

"I was playing good footy before I did my knee and I was probably unlucky to not make the team," he said. "The injury made me want to put more effort into making this team.

"The first two games of this year I took it slow and I didn't go in there swinging and by round three, I was back to normal."

Injuries aside, the 23-year-old's road to the NSW right centre spot for next Wednesday's series-opener hasn't been straight forward.

He has been embroiled in his fair share of off-field indiscretions.

Last year he was ordered to undergo alcohol counselling after being hit by the NRL with fines for using a homophobic slur and drunken advances on separate nights out.

"I learnt my lesson and I don't want to go down that path again," he said.

"The first thing I said to myself was 'your family'. I let them down.

"But at the same time, they were my biggest support through it all and they're always there for me."

On the field, Staggs has undergone a transformation as part of a resurgent Broncos outfit this year.

Not so long ago it seemed Brisbane's gameplan was as simple as: 'let's throw it to Staggs and see what can happen'.

Staggs has always been an explosive attacking threat, but this year Brisbane are less reliant on him, underlined by his relatively modest returns of three tries and two try assists across 12 games.

Staggs can pick his moments now, but it is on the other side of the coin where the Tongan international is finally beginning to flourish, topping the NRL for one-on-one tackles.

"I always knew I'll always have my attack," he said. "But my main thing with my defence, I'm still improving and I think that's come a long way."