Red alert as Horsburgh enters Origin frame for Maroons
Queensland must find a way to fight fire with fire against the strong NSW pack, hence Canberra firebrand Corey Horsburgh has entered the equation for a State of Origin recall.
There are myths surrounding the Raiders rocket, affectionately known as "Big Red" and "Horse" by fans.
One of those myths is that he is just a throwback to the 1980s who will take it to the opposition with a no-holds-barred approach.
There is more to the 27-year-old than that worthy methodology.
Maroons coach Billy Slater looks for Origin-like habits in his players and Horsburgh epitomised that in second-placed Canberra's recent 16-10 win over the Warriors.
With time almost up on the clock, giant Warriors back-rower Marata Niukore charged towards the line for a try that would have levelled the match. Horsburgh appeared from nowhere to turn Niukore on his back centimetres from the line to save a certain four-pointer.
The Raiders stalwart debuted for the Maroons in the dead-rubber game three of the 2023 Origin series which they lost.
The 2025 series will go down the gurgler if the Maroons don't win in Perth on June 18 after their dismal 18-6 opening loss in Brisbane on Wednesday night. Queensland needs an enforcer to take on beastly Payne Haas and company.
Horsburgh has 20 tackle breaks and 19 offloads in his 11 NRL games this year. He also has a tackle efficiency of 95.2 per cent and has averaged 134m per match in attack. It is a stellar record.
Former Maroons star Ben Ikin, now the Queensland Rugby League CEO, was asked before game one about Horsburgh's omission and whether he would get another chance.
"I'd say to Corey to keep playing the way you are playing and eventually you are going to find yourself in a Maroons jersey," Ikin said.
"He embodies what it means to be a Queenslander. He is full of passion and is in a team that is playing outstanding footy. The Maroons program is in a pretty good place when someone like Corey Horsburgh can't make the team."
NSW great and Channel Nine commentator Andrew Johns is also a fan.
"I think there has to be changes with Corey Horsburgh, he's one I think can add something," Johns said when analysing the Maroons' loss.
Horsburgh will line up against the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney in the next fortnight where he can make a compelling Origin statement.
"Hopefully I can keep playing good footy at the Raiders and put my name in the picture but the Queensland side is not an easy team to get into," Horsburgh told AAP.
"I was lucky enough to do it and that's my goal again this year.
"When I was a young fella I would watch Origin and I looked up to Petero Civoniceva and Matt Scott ... big tough front-rowers that never took a backward step."
Rabbitohs forward Jai Arrow and versatile Warriors gun Kurt Capewell are two other former Origin representatives that could stake a claim.
Maroons coach Billy Slater has also had his eye on Dolphins young gun Max Plath.
Plath is expected back from a foot injury for the round 14 clash with St George Illawarra and could be an option as a utility on the bench.
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