Canberra Raiders winger Nick Cotric would not be out of place in the cauldron of State of Origin according to those who know him best, his teammates.
Cotric was named in Brad Fittler's Emerging Blues side last year and has done little this season to dissuade the incoming coach.
Averaging 100 metres and 6.5 tackle breaks a game so far in 2018, Cotric has shown maturity beyond his years.
Cotric's fellow winger at the Raiders Jordan Rapana has no doubt if he continues to improve the Canberra junior is bound for State of Origin football.
"He's a quality player, I have no doubt he'd be able to kill it at that level," Rapana said.
"But I'm sure if you spoke to Nick he's just focused on playing well and doing his job here and so be it if he gets selected I'm sure he'll absolutely wonderful for the Blues."
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The Kiwi international says Cotric has all of the physical skills to be able to be an impact player in time at the highest level.
"We see it every week with him, he's a very consistent player and he's a tough runner, you see him breaking tackles left right and centre.
"He can find the try-line too, so I think he'll add a lot of spark to the team."
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Raiders halfback Aidan Sezer said Cotric's humility and dedication to getting better as a player meant it would be hard to keep him out of the NSW side as his career progresses.
"For a 20-year-old kid playing like a regular first-grader, really contributing to the team each week, it's something pretty special," Sezer said.
"He takes everything in his stride and enjoys the game which is the most fundamental thing."
Cotric said earlier this year it was a dream of his to play representative football but understood form at club level was the foundation for every star who has shone at Origin time.
"Being named in the Emerging Blues is a massive honour for me at this stage in my career, but at the moment I am just focusing on club footy," Cotric said.
"I would love to play Origin and play for Australia one day down the track. That's been my dream ever since I was a little kid to get to that level one day."
Witness Australia's greatest sporting rivalry when Origin comes to the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday, June 6. Tickets available at NRL.com/tickets.
