Just 20, Jake Clifford is already confident enough to override the great Johnathan Thurston's on-field calls at North Queensland.
But the young playmaker insists he has much to learn before stepping up in retired Thurston's absence at the Cowboys next NRL season.
And Clifford is hoping time spent with Daly Cherry-Evans and Ben Hunt in the Prime Minister's XIII will fast track his education.
Capping his stellar year, five-eighth Clifford will partner skipper Cherry-Evans in the halves for Saturday's annual clash with Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
It is another 2018 highlight for Clifford who not only earned his NRL debut but finished the season as Thurston's regular Cowboys halves partner, playing six games.
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The Cowboys Rookie of the Year saved his best until last by setting up three tries in Thurston's final game of his 17-season career, at one stage overriding the ex-Test playmaker's calls for the ball.
Asked if he believed he could step up as Michael Morgan's North Queensland halves partner in 2019, Clifford said: "I hope so.
"I have only got six NRL games under my belt. To run a team there is a bit more to it.
"(But) I definitely built confidence after a few games under my belt.
"I felt more confident calling for the ball. If he (Thurston) wanted it, I had the confidence to do that (override his call)."
Clifford hopes his time with Manly playmaker Cherry-Evans and St George Illawarra No.7 Hunt will aid his crash course in how to help run a team in Thurston's absence.
"It will be a good experience playing next to Daly and Benny. Getting to chew their ears will be beneficial for me next year," he said.
Clifford also hoped to keep learning from Thurston, who will stay involved with the Cowboys coaching staff next year.
"He's probably going to be an Immortal. It's just the way he stays composed all the time, he is always competing," Clifford said of Thurston.
"He is always trying to help the team out. That is something I need to do a bit more of in my game.
"In the first three games I felt I fell in and out of them.
"Thurston spoke to me during that time and just told me to try and stay involved. Now I just try to compete the whole time."
