'Consider myself a battler': Blues prop Max King reflects on 'dark time' after unlikely Origin call-up

Max King has given new meaning to the word "battler" after earning a surprise call-up to the NSW Blues squad for the State of Origin opener.

The 28-year-old is just a few years removed from thinking about giving the game away due to injuries, before he was handed a lifeline by the Bulldogs.

King's rise in form has coincided with Canterbury establishing themselves as a genuine premiership threat, losing just one of their 10 games this season.

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The no-nonsense prop dealt with lingering Achilles and foot problems before he moved to Belmore, which had limited him to just 12 appearances in two years at the Storm, before he spent 12 months on the sidelines.

An emotional Instagram post after his first season at the Dogs resurfaced over the weekend, where he admitted he was close to retiring due to his injury woes.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the front-rower explained why he was contemplating giving up on his career and what motivated him to keep going.

"It wasn't out of choice, it was more so that my foot was busted," he said.

"I was out for about two years, I had no contract and my foot was still busted, so I just thought it was the end of the road. I just don't feel like I had lived out God's purpose for me, there was a lot of wrestling with my faith and it was a really dark time.

"Gus and the Dogs gave me a lifeline and it worked out and I'm here today … I'm grateful I could see the light at the end of the tunnel."

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Refusing to give up on his dreams has paid dividends for King, who is legitimately one of the form middle forwards in the competition this season.

King has averaged 151 run metres and 32 tackles per game for Canterbury and will now look to bring his high work rate to the game's toughest arena.

Despite the career-best form he's displayed, King managed to find a way to downplay his efforts on the field in light-hearted fashion on his first day of Blues camp.

"I sort of consider myself a battler A Grade football player and I always felt like God had called me to play NRL - not because I'm a good football player, but because he's called me here," the English-born forward said.

"A part of that journey was that I wanted to play representative football and play for my state and play for my country. It's always been a dream of mine and I always prayed for it, but along the way it's been a tough journey.

"It's been a real tough journey to get here and I'm just so grateful for where I'm at and I guess the faith that it's built along the way.

"It all happens for a reason and I'm still pinching myself wearing the jersey."

King is the only debutant in the NSW squad ahead of the series opener on May 28.