Queensland Maroons coach Billy Slater has praised the rejuvenation of Corey Horsburgh as the Raiders prop aims to return to the Origin scene.
Horsburgh, who fell out with coach Ricky Stuart last year before making up again, has been enormous for the Raiders in their 2-0 start to the season.
In 2023 he made his sole Maroons appearance but his form seriously dipped and the prop was barely sighted last year.
Speaking to Fox League after the Raiders' win over the Broncos, Horsburgh admitted he "got off the piss in the off-season and got on a diet".
Tom Starling and Corey Horsburgh. Â NRL Imagery
Horsburgh contributed with 132 run metres against the Broncos and had a try assist.
The 27-year-old was quoted post-match in the Canberra Times that Origin "has obviously been my goal".
Now Slater has given him a vote of confidence.
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"We saw a couple of years ago he was capable of it," he said on Nine's The Billy Slater podcast.
"It just shows you when you commit yourself and you get yourself nice and fit, what you can actually do."
Horsburgh played 52 minutes for the Raiders against the Broncos and provided a brutal one-two punch with front-row partner Josh Papalii.
Slater was impressed with the workload of both men straight from the outset.
"I thought they were fantastic, they actually complemented each other," he said.
"Off the first set of six, the Broncos kicked off and they both had carries in that first set and that was noticeable and that set the standard for not only their team but it set the standard for them and they went on to be two of the best players in the game.
"Big Papa went on to pick up a try before he had a rest in the first half and Corey Horsburgh, he played huge minutes, which he can, we know he can do that and he's given himself a chance to play his best football because of the work he's put in in the off-season.
Corey Horsburgh and Ricky Stuart embrace after the Broncos match. Â NRL Imagery
"My coach (Craig Bellamy) always said, it's hard to have a good season when you don't have a good off-season.
"It doesn't guarantee you a good season if you have a good pre-season but it certainly sets you up, it certainly gives you an opportunity and you can see Big Red, he's given himself a great opportunity to have a good season because of the work he's put in before March."