Sydney Roosters hooker Jake Friend is hopeful he has put his NRL bad boy tag behind him and credits former teammate and roommate Todd Carney for his help.

The 22-year-old Friend has turned his career around after a string of off-field incidents in 2009 and 2010 and said on Wednesday probable NSW State of Origin five-eighth Carney had provided encouragement, understanding and inspiration.

“It’s good to see him going so well down in Cronulla. It makes me want to go well too,” Friend said.

“It would be nice for him to get that blue jersey. I’m wishing him all the best. I still see him and chat with him and keep in touch.”

Friend and Carney were housemates during their turbulent time together at the Roosters and the Noosa-born hooker revealed Carney’s first-hand experience of the ups and down of professional sport helped Friend to recover from some of his darkest times, as his career hung in the balance.

“When he was here (at the Roosters), I moved in with him and he definitely helped me with the media and coming back … all that sort of stuff,” said Friend.

After a series of brushes with the law, Friend had his contract terminated by the Roosters in 2009 before returning to football as a key member of the team’s charge to the 2010 grand final.

Since then, highly-influential Roosters chairman Nick Politis has suggested Friend will one day represent Queensland.

Cameron Smith is entrenched as the Maroons No.9 but Origin might not be a bridge too far for Friend given his age.

“I would love to play State of Origin, but Cameron Smith is one of the best players going around and he will be there for as long as he wants so I am prepared to wait,” Friend said.

“I would hope to get in there as soon as possible, but I’m not in any rush at all.”