After single-handedly securing the Cowboys a last-minute 16-14 win over the Storm on Friday night, Kyle Feldt has put himself well and truly on the Origin radar before the NRL season even gets underway.
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The Queenslander crossed for a hat-trick of tries in the testimonial match for Maroons veterans Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston, with the winger doing his best to steal the show.
Looking particularly sharp for a pre-season fixture, Cowboys coach Paul Green revealed post-game that Feldt's looked after himself during the break.
"Feldty had his best off-season so far and turned up in good shape," Green said.
"We could see his abs from day one which hasn’t been the case with Feldty.
“Hopefully what we saw tonight he can continue throughout the season."
Benefiting from a pin-point banana kick from Thurston in the dying moments of the game to score the match winner, Feldt received the backing of JT to make a strong push for a Maroons jersey.
"He has obviously played a lot of finals football now and understands how to prepare right and execute in big games," Thurston said.
"He is not far off (Origin) and no doubt if he continues how he is he will be knocking on the door."
Smith, who had his night spoiled by Feldt's exploits, echoed Thurston's comments.
"Going off what Greeny said about him having the best preparation in any season he’s ever seen him have, that puts him in a really good position to have a crack at Origin this year," the Queensland skipper said.
"If he keeps coming up with some of the efforts he did tonight in the first part of the season then he is in with a very good chance."
Feldt was part of the Maroons Emerging Origin squad in 2017, but the 26-year-old faces real competition for a place on the Queensland flanks with Dane Gagai, Valentine Holmes and Corey Oates all earning spots on the wing last series.
