“Just understanding that there was an opportunity available and I was in the mix – I wasn’t naive to the fact that I was in calculations, so missing out hurts more than not being in contention at all.

“When I walked away from last season I made it a personal goal to make sure I put myself back in contention for these sorts of sides and I feel like I have done that and it would have been nice to seal it off with a spot.”​

Cherry-Evans, who has played six Origins to date, said he held no ill feeling towards selectors and former Broncos players Gene Miles, Darren Lockyer and Walters.

“I haven’t got a chance and that’s through personal preference of the coach and selectors. I haven’t taken it personally and I understand that they have big decisions to make,” he said.

“They’ll back their decision which is exactly what you want coaching staff and selectors to do and I am going to continue to play well and hopefully I am in the same conversations next year.

“I knew I wasn’t in the side because you normally get a call the day before so it was really nice for him (Walters) to give me the time of day.

“I haven’t played in a side with Kevvy Walters so I didn’t expect him to call me but I thought that was very nice and respectful and, as I told him, I was really appreciative of it.”