When you think of Origin football and Brett Kimmorley, you can't help but think of 'that' pass.

The one in extra time of the opening game of 2005 series at Suncorp Stadium which Queensland flyer Matt Bowen plucked out of mid air before sprinting away to seal a thrilling Maroons win.

It resulted in Kimmorley's banishment from the Blues, the veteran playmaker not forgiven until handed an Origin lifeline for the final two games of the 2007 series.

Despite Kimmorley playing a leading role in NSW denying Queensland a clean-sweep that year, he was again discarded, with most critics claiming the 32-year-old was still paying the price for the Bowen intercept.

Now called upon to again deny the Maroons a 3-0 series win, Kimmorley denied he was still haunted by the pass which all but ruined his representative career.

"I've played two games since the pass - this game is nothing to do with redemption," Kimmorley said.

"It's a good reward for playing consistently great at the Bulldogs.

"I don't really care too much about the pass to be honest - it was a long time ago and I still play the same style of football.

"If I feel the long pass is on I still throw it - it hasn't changed anything."

It's that sort of confidence that earned Kimmorley a recall, with incumbent Peter Wallace dropped after two forgettable games to open the series.

"I thought we needed a halfback that was really confident and cocky and Brett's certainly that," coach Craig Bellamy said.

"It was really hard to leave Peter Wallace out, he's a tremendous young kid and he's certainly an Origin player, he's just down on a bit of confidence at the moment."

Seemingly free of the pressure which he carried into past campaigns, Kimmorley said he was ready to enjoy his fifth coming as an Origin player.

And he also believed his dominant style would help with the confidence of fellow playmakers Trent Barrett and Michael Ennis.

"I don't shut up too much on the field - that's how I know what my role is," Kimmorley said.

"I talk pretty good and I can steer a side around and build a game plan and obviously in Origin we've got to be pretty patient and just wait and not probably lose the game.

"That might help Trent, that might allow him to play a bit wider and stay a bit more relaxed.

Brought to you by AAP © 2024 AAP