Whatever the result and however AJ Brimson fares in his return to the Origin arena, the Maroons fullback knows he'll be filled with the positivity of his close mate, Liam Hampson.
A popular figure in Queensland league circles, Hampson passed away late last year while on an overseas holiday, with Brimson one of several players who acted as pallbearers for the player Wayne Bennett described as a "fine young man".
This Sunday's Titans-Dolphins clash will be preceded by a curtain-raiser between Hampson's former clubs Tweed and Redcliffe playing for the inaugural Liam Hampson Cup.
After being called into the Maroons' squad for Game Three, Brimson likely just be cheering from the stands rather than on field at Cbus Super Stadium, but will carry Hampson's spirit and memory with him throughout the week and into his Origin return.
“He was big in the footy community and he was working on becoming a teacher and a support worker, so it's good his passion can be continued on,” said Brimson, who vowed to dedicate his season to Hampson.
“Honestly, he was just a happy person.
"I know it's kind of cliché, but I just think he was always happy, so I try to be happy for him. I think it's one thing to just sit back... and realise how lucky we are how quickly things can change.
"You can go from having the best time of your life... and you just don't know when time's up or what can happen.
"Now I just try to make every moment count."
As well as "Hampo's Cup" being awarded to the winning team, Liam's family will select the best player of the day to be awarded the Liam Hampson Medal.
The match day will also serve as a fundraiser for Hampo’s Youth Foundation, an organisation set up to help set young people on path to achieving their best both academically and in sport.
“We are so very, very grateful for the level of support that we're getting,” Hampson’s mother and foundation director Lorna Morton said.
“Obviously I'm a bit biased, but he was a very special person and he had such a massive impact on so many people.
“He was one subject away from completing his teaching degree and while he was studying to be a teacher, he was playing QRL for the Dolphins, but before that, for Tweed.
“He was working as a teacher's aide to support himself and it was when he was working as a teacher's aide that he really had a massive impact on the lives of students.
“We got hundreds of gratitude cards from Redcliffe High after he passed away just telling us what an impact he had and how positive he was and how he helped them through if they had any struggles. We also got messages from teammates.
“He was such a source of inspiration and support and what we want to do is encourage young people to be able to persevere and overcome their challenges, so with the foundation, we're starting with providing scholarships to Keebra Park and Redcliffe High.
"We're looking to cover all the financial aspects of their schooling and sports, but a huge aspect will be they will be around their well-being.
“As part of the scholarship, there will be a mentorship program… we're going to fully train the mentors and they'll have a full program that they stick to and check in with their mentee as well so they have got structured support.”
Brimson is an ambassador for the foundation alongside Broncos forwards Jordan Riki and Pat Carrigan, and his brother Will is set to feature for the Seagulls in Sunday’s game.
“It will be a big event and I want to be there as much as I can, but it's good that every time it is Tweed versus Dolphins, he will be recognised,” Brimson said.
“They've got a big photo of him at Tweed and they've got a photo of him in the Redcliffe sheds. I think that's just as important, so he’s always not just in our thoughts, but every time you think of him, you have a laugh.
"You might have a story with one of the boys that walk by, so just I think the most important thing is just keeping his name alive.”
Those who can’t attend the match but would still like to support the work of the foundation can donate via their website.
