With almost a month until State of Origin I at Suncorp Stadium, and having previously profiled the players in danger of losing their Origin jersey, this week I’ve decided to take a look at the players who could potentially break into Brad Fittler’s NSW Blues. Some of these men would be debutants, and others returning for their second bite of the cherry.
5. Nick Cotric
Since his debut in round one of the 2017 season, 20-year-old Raiders junior Nick Cotric has barely put a foot wrong. He's scored an incredible 30 tries from 55 games since his debut as a teenager only two years ago.
While Blake Ferguson is arguably in better form right now, Cotric doesn’t have any of the previous indiscretions against his name and also has the added upside of being nine years Ferguson’s junior with the potential for a long Origin career ahead of him.
Blessed with a large frame and impressive pace and agility for a man of his size, Cotric utilises these assets well in close quarters to often break the first tackle. Although he is still young, these physical abilities would allow him to thrive at Origin level. The Canberra junior has also continuously displayed a remarkable ability to contort his body in order to stay in the field of play while planting the ball down.
Having been selected by Brad Fittler as the 19th man for Origin I and having been involved in the Blues' inner sanctum for most of the 2018 series, Cotric is familiar with the Blues structures and modes of operating, which can only help his push for selection.
If Fittler is to continue to promote youth as he did in the successful 2018 campaign, Nick Cotric has to be one of the first cabs off the rank in terms of selection.