His fan club only seems to grow each week but Michael Morgan may still need a bit more time to win over Queensland selectors.
Hat-trick hero Morgan was the toast of North Queensland's historic 31-20 NRL win over Brisbane on Friday night, earning praise from Maroons pivot Johnathan Thurston to Immortal Andrew Johns.
It remains to be seen if it has been enough to dislodge Manly playmaker Daly Cherry-Evans as Queensland's bench utility.
Cowboys pivot Morgan was described as "built for Origin" after he defied an ankle complaint and added to his stellar rise by inspiring North Queensland's club record-equalling seventh straight win.
His heroics reportedly put pressure on Queensland selectors to reassess the bench utility role usually held by Cherry-Evans ahead of their Origin I team announcement on Tuesday.
Johns admitted he was a Morgan fan.
"You watch him play and how quick and powerful he is," he told Channel Nine's The Footy Show.
"He is a perfect foil for Thurston.
"He is finding his feet. He is running the ball and is so hard to handle."
Cowboys co-captain Thurston backed Morgan to don the Maroon jersey sooner rather than later.
"He is pushing all the right buttons (for Origin selectors)," he said.
"He wouldn't look out of place there.
"He can cover a lot of positions. He is an ideal utility player."
Cowboys coach Paul Green chimed in with: "He is built for Origin.
"He is not a small guy, he is a good defender and he competes, so when he gets his chance, he won't let Queensland down."
But Broncos master coach Wayne Bennett was not convinced.
"Who's place is he going to take?" he asked.
"They're not going to take him as a utility.
"He'll only play one position, that's not utility."
Morgan's display was reportedly enough for Maroon selectors to reconsider their legendary loyalty ahead of the Origin I team announcement.
It is believed only Meninga's staunch support will get Cherry-Evans over the line for the series opener.
Morgan wasn't losing any sleep over the speculation.
"To be talked about like that is very humbling," he said.
"It's something that I never really thought of.
"I think the Queensland team ... with how it's been the last eight years, picks itself."
The only new face expected in the Maroons 17 is Broncos prop Josh McGuire on a beefed up bench - a move that earned Johns' approval.
"He has a lot of speed for a front rower," he said of McGuire.
"He would come off the bench and cause some headaches at the 30 minute mark - nice and mad."
Meanwhile, Broncos fullback Darius Boyd backed himself to play Origin I just two games into his return from a ruptured Achilles.
"I feel I am right to go," he told reporters.
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