Two plays that show this Raider can answer Origin SOS
Corey Horsburgh is ready to answer Queensland's call and his last fortnight's work for the high-flying Canberra Raiders proves he has the Origin traits and habits Billy Slater demands.
Maroons coach Slater conceded Horsburgh was stiff to miss out on selection for the opening game of the series where Queensland were manhandled by NSW in a 18-6 defeat in Brisbane.
Needing to save the series, Slater is preparing to name his team for game two in Perth on June 18.
Horsburgh will be out to make an impression in his final audition on Sunday when the Raiders host South Sydney.
But over the last two weeks, the prop has already shown the traits Slater is looking for to help the Green Machine rise to second on the NRL ladder.
In a gritty win over the Warriors in Auckland in round 12, Horsburgh and teammate Morgan Smithies pulled off a try-saving tackle on Marata Niukore in the dying stages.
Red and Morgs save the day 👏#WeAreRaiders pic.twitter.com/U8PGvSpQAT
— Canberra Raiders (@RaidersCanberra) May 25, 2025
And last Sunday, in the Raiders' 26-24 win over the Sydney Roosters, it was Horsburgh who jolted the ball loose from Victor Radley's grasp with the game on the line.
Horsburgh (112m) also clocked up more metres than the Roosters' two Origin props - fellow Queenslander Lindsay Collins (47m) and NSW prop Spencer Leniu (42m) - combined.
And the 27-year-old, who has just one solitary Queensland appearance to name, is eager to channel those efforts into Origin and help Slater's men square the series.
"You can't take it (an omission) to heart but I just focus on winning," Horsburgh told AAP.
"We won last week, we won this week and as long as the Raiders are winning... if my phone rings for game two, I'm ready.
"I'm playing in a different role to 2023 when I was at lock. (There was) no feedback on why I didn't make it or anything.
"I'm just trying to play consistent footy and if the phone rings I'm ready, but if not hopefully they can get the job done over the next two games."
Canberra can finish round 14 in top spot with a win over Souths in Horsburgh's 100th NRL game.
Josh Papali'i will also surpass Jason Croker and become the most-capped player in Raiders' history in his 319th NRL game.
Horsburgh's road to his milestone has been fraught with highs and lows and as recently as last year the prop was on the outer after a 2024 campaign that was wrecked by injury and suspension.
"I don't care about mine, Papa's (milestone) is a big one - beating the club record is pretty special," Horsburgh said.
"I missed his 300th last year from not playing the best footy so it's one I don't want to miss.
"I've had bad injuries but I'm a pretty resilient person who can bounce back from stuff like that.
"I identified last year was more my fault and I've trained hard and got my body right to reap the rewards now... hopefully this year we can do something special."
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