Canberra skipper Jarrod Croker has talked up the State of Origin prospects of teammate Nick Cotric, lauding his influence on the Raiders.
Calls for Cotric to be thrown into the NSW squad have grown louder, and Croker says the 19-year-old is a "pleasure to play alongside"
"You don't want to put too many raps on the kid but he's handled everything that's come at him so far," Croker said.
"He helps me out. He's a been a breath of fresh air at training running around and chasing everything.
"I'm looking forward to playing the next couple of seasons with him, at least. He's going to do great things for the game."
If Cotric is selected he would become the Raiders' youngest-ever player to be selected for NSW.
Club legend and former NSW coach Laurie Daley holds that record after debuting for the Blues in game one of the 1989 series, five months before his 20th birthday.
But the reigning NRL rookie of the year faces some stiff competition to get there as Josh Addo-Carr has been in sensational form for Melbourne.
However, NSW coach Brad Fittler has made no secret of his admiration for Cotric and previously coached him at under-18 level.
Cotric made his name as a left-winger, but a shift to the right is not out of the question.
Canberra haven't had a player selected for NSW since Blake Ferguson in 2013.
Josh Papalii is poised to cap off a remarkable turnaround by holding onto his Queensland jumper despite being dropped by Stuart for a week this season.
