Two years after letting a Queensland debut slip away after a butterfingered display, Kyle Feldt has put on a wet weather masterclass to earn Maroons skipper Cameron Smith's stamp of approval.
Smith said Feldt looked ready for State of Origin after the North Queensland winger defied torrential rain to cross for three silky tries in a 16-14 NRL trial win over Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium.
The highlight was his remarkable one-handed take of a pinpoint Michael Morgan kick, pick-pocketing Storm flyer Josh Addo-Carr mid-air before crashing over to score in the 33rd minute.
"I hear Greeny (Cowboys coach Paul Green) say he has had his best preparation in any pre-season he has seen," Melbourne skipper Smith said of Feldt.
"That puts him in a really good position to have a crack at Origin this year.
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"If he keeps coming up with some of his efforts that he did (on Friday night) then he's every chance."
Feldt, 26, almost stole the limelight from Cowboys teammate Johnathan Thurston and Smith in their testimonial clash in front of more than 20,000 drenched fans.
The towering winger suddenly finds himself firmly in the Origin mix again two years after looking set to make his debut.
Before game one in 2016, Feldt was reportedly locked into the Maroons side but selectors instead went for Dane Gagai after an error-riddled display in an NRL win over Brisbane.
Feldt's poor handling against the Broncos - in particular two howlers under the high ball - left selectors unconvinced he could step up to Origin.
But after his Friday night hat-trick, Maroons great Thurston believed Feldt was "not far off" Origin.
"If he continues to go the way he is, he will be knocking on the door," he said.
Feldt admitted he took NRL for granted after bursting onto the scene five years ago.
However, after watching his mate Morgan announce himself as an NRL superstar last season Feldt believed it was time he tried to reach the next level.
"I have always been known to come back (from pre-season) a lot heavier," Feldt said.
"I really took ownership in the off-season and decided to get my diet right and do a lot of training and it really worked.
"I am getting old now. I am 26. I am coming to the prime of my career I guess.
"I have been in the Emerging Origin squad the last two years so that (Origin) is something I am looking to working towards."
