A month ago Laurie Daley said Will Hopoate wasn't on his NSW Origin team radar.
But two clutch late plays from the Parramatta centre in NSW City's 26-all draw with Country on Sunday would have made the NSW coach sit up and take notice.
Sunday's match at Dubbo's Apex Oval appeared over as a contest when the home side led 26-10 lead with 10 minutes left.
A brilliant individual effort from Andrew Fifita with six minutes to go looked little more than a consolation effort until Hopoate made his mark on the fixture.
He put winger Daniel Tupou over for his second try in the 79th minute before forcing his own way over in the final minute, giving Adam Reynolds an easy conversion to level the scores.
The former NSW representative has continued to impress in his return to rugby league this season after two years away on a Morman mission and this was another big step forward.
"All week we were talking about trying to get him in those situations where he gets those two-on-ones under pressure. He does them so well, he is so composed," City coach Brad Fittler said of the 2011 premiership winner.
"He has lost no finesse.
"He has got a couple more weeks at Parramatta (before the Origin team selection). We will see how he goes.
"That's what we want is our players to put pressure on each other."
Hopoate's continued rise toward his representative form of 2011 could see him snare a spot on the NSW wing, with Daley's backline selections dependent on where he chooses to play Jarryd Hayne.
A try double from Tupou, including one in which his incredible leap was again on display, did his selection chances no harm either.
Share
