Queensland forward Reuben Cotter will target NSW hooker Apisai Koroisau as he aims to replicate the form he showed in his solitary game of State of Origin football.
The 24-year-old North Queensland powerhouse put in an 80-minute display in Game One last year, when he started at lock in Queensland's 16-10 win in Sydney and made 51 tackles and 134 metres from 14 powerhouse runs.
He missed the next two Origin games with a hamstring injury but is named to start off the bench in the 2023 series opener in Adelaide on May 31 as a middle forward.
Cotter confirmed he would "definitely" be gunning for the crafty Koroisau.
"He is very important. We have spoken about the work he does through the middle," Cotter said.
"Anything we can do to slow him down and slow their team down will take (Isaah) Yeo out of it as well.
"We will look to do that as much as we can...whatever we can do to gas him and take away his run."
Cotter stayed in Sydney after the Cowboys were thrashed 66-18 by Wests Tigers last Saturday night, a clash where Koroisau ran amok for the winners.
On Sunday night he appeared on the Sunday Night with Matty Johns Show from 6pm and revealed he had not received a selection call from Queensland coach Billy Slater.
"How you are going in clubland is a reflection on selection. I wasn't that confident," Cotter said.
"I tried not to think about it, but I was thinking about it. It was good to finally get the call from Bill...around 7.30pm to 8pm he phoned us all.
"Last year... to finally get there and play the 80 minutes (in Origin) I was so excited. (The) next week I done my hammie and that was pretty deflating.
"Billy makes it pretty well known to the group that it is all about re-earning your spot in the team and re-earning your jersey."
Cotter calls himself The Mullet Man and he walks the talk, growing his hair in the classic mullet style. In the off-season, he decided to launch a business selling T-shirts and other merchandise sporting his mulleted image with the help of Cowboys teammate Chad Townsend.
"I feel like I suited it a bit more than the short hair. I stuck with it and now it is a part of me," he grinned.
Cotter, just 180cm tall, was a lock as a youth but when he didn't grow he transitioned to hooker where he played several early games of NRL. In 2022 he had a breakthrough season where he rampaged through plenty of defences.
"It easy to play in the middle. You don't have to think too much. It is just run hard, tackle hard," he grinned.
"I am back in the position I love.
"Playing for the Maroons isn't guaranteed so it is great to be back in camp with the group of boys and I am excited for Wednesday."
