Bouncing around the Bulldogs dressing room, Brett Kimmorley didn't look like a bloke who was once fed up with NRL footy.

Indeed it was hard to wipe the smile off the veteran halfback's face in the bowels of Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

And for good reason - Kimmorley had just backed up barely 48 hours after inspiring NSW's face-saving Origin III win to seal the Bulldogs' 23-16 victory over the Gold Coast.

It was enough to prompt the usually reserved Dogs coach Kevin Moore to throw up Kimmorley's name as the Test halfback for the end of season Four Nations tournament.

Yep, life is pretty sweet for Kimmorley.

But it wasn't that long ago when the pint-sized playmaker had had a gutful with all things league.

"In the last few years, I have gone through some phases when I really hated the game and mentally put a lot of strain on myself," Kimmorley said.

"I got caught up in that, I didn't like it so much.

"But I am really enjoying where I am as a footballer right now."

It shows.

The Kimmorley of old probably would have lost sleep over criticism of his Origin III selection.

He made up the oldest NSW halves pairing in Origin history with Trent Barrett.

The cynics wondered how NSW could plan for the future by dropping Broncos No.7 Peter Wallace and dusting off Kimmorley, 33 in September.

Instead Kimmorley found his happy place, and he outplayed Queensland and Test halfback Johnathan Thurston to spark the morale-boosting NSW victory.

Not satisfied, Kimmorley backed up on Friday night to clearly outpoint the man considered Thurston's heir, Titans halfback Scott Prince.

Kimmorley killed off a Titans comeback with a field goal in the dying minutes.

After being reminded that he had wins over both Prince and Thurston in 48 hours, Kimmorley laughed: "Does that mean I get the Test jersey?

"Look, I am just enjoying my footy."

So much so that Moore claimed Kimmorley must be considered for Test selection this year.

But Kimmorley didn't look like he would play for the Blues again let alone his country after throwing "that" pass in NSW's Origin I loss in 2005 at Suncorp Stadium.

Yet a move to the Dogs in 2009 has proved a masterstroke for the diminutive playmaker.

"I am relaxing more. A lot of the time you burn yourself out with mental stress, you hype yourself up but I have been able to stay away from that this year," Kimmorley said.

"I know what my strengths are in my game and that is all I am doing.

"I am not trying to over complicate how I play any more."

Asked if the player dubbed "Noddy" continued to amaze him, Bulldogs captain Andrew Ryan said: "Absolutely.

"Just his enthusiasm. He pretty much trains every day.

"Some of us older guys don't do all the sessions, but Noddy is out there bouncing around, he just doesn't stop."

Kimmorley may not be buying into any of the Test speculation just yet.

But if his form continues he may have to re-think his initial plans for October - the month of the Four Nations.

"I am booked for a golf holiday in Tasmania at that time so I might have to go on that instead," Kimmorley laughed.

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