Inside Kotoni's four-year journey to shed one-game wonder tag

Kotoni Staggs is the Broncos’ leading tryscorer this year but was still unsure if he would regain his NSW Blues jersey after a four-year absence from Origin. 

He didn’t particularly want his name added to the list of Origin one-hit-wonders. 

But where injury denied him a second bite of the interstate rivalry back in 2022, it helped propel him back into the Blues side in 2026 when Latrell Mitchell (back) was unavailable for selection. 

The years in between had some wondering why Staggs didn’t return considering his tryscoring strike rate remained high and he played six Tests for Australia (2023-25) and won the Dally M Centre of the Year last season. 

The 27-year-old made a triumphant Origin return in Game One this year at Accor Stadium.

“That was one of the fastest games I’ve ever been a part of – it was also one of the best I’ve been a part of because it was my first win in the Blues jersey,” he told NRL.com.

“That meant a lot to me. 

“My first experience wasn’t ideal as I played 60 minutes and then got injured.” 

Staggs tore the labrum in his shoulder in the first half at Accor Stadium in the 2022 series opener but played well into the second half before coming off. 

He was overlooked for Games Two and Three due to the injury that needed off-season surgery. 

Despite scoring seven tries in the opening 11 rounds of the 2023 season, Staggs was not chosen for the Blues. He went on to be a part of the Broncos' 2023 grand final team that lost to the Panthers.

“It’s been a few years in between before I got another crack but obviously you learn from it, you look at your game and what you can do better, how you can present yourself when another chance comes around," he said.

“I learned a lot as a person, as well as a footballer, being away from Origin and not being selected year on year. 

“But I’m back in this side and have earned Laurie’s trust that I can do a job for him.” 

Staggs has scored seven tries in 11 games in 2026 and averages 120 running metres per match.

He was invited to the pre-season Blues camp in February but was unable to attend. 

He initially thought that might hurt his chances of regaining his Blues jersey. But he had a big supporter in his corner – Michael Maguire. 

“Obviously ‘Madge’ was the coach for NSW and then at the Broncos so he was always telling me to keep playing well because I would always be a chance,” Staggs said. 

“Although I hadn’t been picked for a while I never shut the gate on it in my mind. 
“I never gave up hope about it. I knew it could come around again. 

“I just had to make sure that I was ready for whenever it did and luckily that was this year.” 

Born in the Central West of NSW in Wellington, Staggs says he doesn’t get relentlessly teased from Broncos teammates or Brisbane fans. 

“A lot of people actually think I am a Queenslander because I’ve been in Queensland for so long,” he said of his nine NRL seasons with the Broncos after a year playing for the Redcliffe Dolphins in Queensland Cup.  

“When they see me in a Blues jersey it rattles them. They love the Broncos so they say they can’t hate me.”