Canberra coach Ricky Stuart is already seeing signs young gun Ethan Strange has changed as a player after returning from a glittering State of Origin performance.
And he's urging more of his stars to step up into the representative arena after the five-eighth made his NSW debut.
Just days after being parachuted into the starting line-up with Mitchell Moses ruled out with a hamstring injury, Strange played a dazzling role in the Blues' epic 22-20 comeback victory in game one at Accor Stadium.
His crucial second-half try laid the platform for NSW's resurgence and has dealt Blues coach Laurie Daley a fresh conundrum, as he now must decide who will be in the starting No.6 jersey for game two on June 17.
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Stuart wouldn't be lured into giving his thoughts on the situation, insisting Strange has to worry about his performances with the Raiders if he is to make a strong case.
"I'd love to have five or six origin players, international players, because that type of football makes you a better player," Stuart said on Saturday.
"They (Hudson Young and Strange) have pulled up really well. It's always a different feeling after a win, and you don't feel the soreness as much.
"They've only been back for 24 hours and what you do see is a lot of belief. You get a lot of self-belief out of playing well in representative football."
Strange and Young are expected to back up from Wednesday night's thriller as Canberra look to bust a six-year losing streak against a red-hot North Queensland on Sunday at GIO Stadium.
The Raiders will also want to bounce back from a 30-22 loss to the Dolphins last round, which ended in a fiery post-match press conference from Stuart, where he said he had "never been so confused" after a series of controversial refereeing calls went against his side.
"I don't think I need to go to the NRL ... I wouldn't have said it straight after the game. There is thought that goes into that," he said.
"There have been times when I haven't had much thought (where I've got) in trouble, but no, I didn't have to go back to the review."
Cowboys prop Matthew Lodge will replace co-captain Reuben Cotter, who has been kept on ice after playing for the Maroons.
Kiwi Wiremu Greig joins the bench, while in-form winger Murray Taulagi returns from a concussion as North Queensland look to secure their ninth win in 11 matches.
