Similar to her Waratahs male teammate Dave Porecki's 562-day drought between Wallaby appearances, it almost seems ironic that Wallaroo #189 Annabelle Codey could be set to break her drought at the exact same venue where she played her last match in gold.
Since making her debut in 2022, Codey went on to earn five caps for the Wallaroos - with her last coming at the 2023 WXV 1 tournament in Wellington, where she received a red card in the Wallaroos 42-7 loss to England.
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However, should she be picked for this weekend's match against the Black Ferns in Wellington, the result would see her end a mammoth 631-day drought for her sixth cap - with the 28-year-old crediting a move to New South Wales from Queensland and a significant time to work on herself for the turnaround.
"It's been a really long stint," Codey told reporters on Monday from Wellington.
"Earlier on when I wasn't being picked, I guess you want to look at anyone but yourself.
"Once I stopped playing the blame game and looked at myself and started working on myself, particularly the mental side of things, I've gone from strength to strength.
"My move to the Waratahs was a game changer as well, because I was challenged more as an athlete. I haven't looked back.
"I guess as an athlete, sometimes you want to think it's not your fault or no faults are in your game. I did play the blame game for a bit.
"Once I accepted what I needed to work on and what I needed to do to get back in the squad, that's when I had a clear vision and I knew what I had to do. And that's found myself here."
The challenge of moving to the Waratahs and working on her game and fitness came into even more focus as the World Cup approached - with Codey facing the possibility that she might not have the chance to go to England in August.
It was the fear of this approach that led to her taking each training on a day-by-day approach - which also led to her picking up conversations with Wallaroos coach Jo Yapp.
"You definitely have thoughts like that," she said.
"I feel like that's why I never did throw in the towel, because for that entire period, the focus has been getting back into the squad and the World Cup dream staying alive.
"You just remind yourself to show up to training and just put in every effort possible to get back.
"More so this season, I was back on the radar. Last year, I wasn't where I needed to be and I wasn't really in form at all.
"This year, we [Jo Yapp and I] became more in talks as Super [Rugby] W went on and the tests started, we were more frequently chatting.
"It's my first time meeting these coaches and getting to know them as well. So it's been really important for me to have deeper conversations with them and build trust between us."
Upon being called into the squad for the July-August pre-RWC fixtures, Codey was quick to impress, coming off the bench in Australia A's 50-22 defeat of Samoa at Viking Park.
The Wallaroos were in training for several weeks in Canberra before heading over to New Zealand - with Codey noticing a stark difference compared to her time in 2023.
"The mood's great," Codey said.
"I obviously felt, I guess, a bit sheepish having not been in the squad for a while and it felt like my first day at school all over again. But everyone is really great. They're really welcoming.
"The other locks [are] always willing to help me around lineout details and stuff like that. So I guess it just falls back on the team first mentality. Everyone puts the team first. We have that element of connectedness. It makes you feel really welcome."
After taking a focus on growth during the Pacific Four Series, Jo Yapp has aimed to synergise the side in the final three Tests before the World Cup with a 'team first' approach.
It starts with the Wallaroos searching for that elusive first win against their rivals across the ditch, making significant strides forward earlier in the year in Newcastle despite going down 38-12.
While the O'Reilly Cup is wrapped up for another year, there is still much to gain for the women in gold if they produce a better performance against New Zealand away from home.
"The last time I played was in Wellington so I guess it's a full circle moment for me - and the last time I played in Wellington wasn't the best of circumstances," Codey said.
"I'm definitely keen to rip in and do my part for the team.
"They've got the home crowd advantage, but going into it, I don't think any of us really think about that. We really just try and focus on us, our job and ignore history because we want to rewrite it this Saturday.
"We're really focusing on staying connected as a united front, particularly leading to the World Cup. It's all about being team first and getting behind each other.
"The Kiwis, they're very physical and they're one of the best sides in the world. We know we have to front up physically, bring our A game.
"Nothing changes for us."
