Former NSW skipper Ben Elias believes Robbie Farah’s battle to cement himself as a State of Origin player has turned him into a leader with a greater hunger to win.

Farah spent four seasons trying to prove his worth against rival hooker Michael Ennis for a regular hold on the Blues’ No.9 jersey.

And now, for the first time, the Wests Tigers skipper will run out at ANZ Stadium as the Blues’ vice-captain for Wednesday’s 2013 series opener.

“Two years ago, Robbie was on the lounge room chair watching the game, watching Ennis run around,” Elias told AAP.

“He gets very frustrated but I said ‘Be patient and your time will come’.”

That time was in game two last year, when Farah made a record-breaking 63 tackles in what became the last match his mother watched before she died from cancer a few days later.

“It’s amazing … these games make champions,” Elias said.

“And 80 minutes turned his whole life around with that performance that he made.

“It’s consolidated him and made him now the leader.”

Six-time NSW captain Elias, who speaks to Farah almost every day, is confident the Origin hooker is better prepared going into this year’s series.

“He’s far more mature this time. He’s not worried about being picked or not. He’s far more settled, experienced, more hungry with regards to winning,” Elias said.

“The one thing I can say to the team: if we won the last seven series it wouldn’t be as challenging.

“We welcome the challenge. It’s history in the making and that’s what’s the biggest message I can say to the players.”