'I've been ready for years': Raiders prop puts his hand up for Origin call

Firebrand prop Corey Horsburgh is willing to answer the call if Billy Slater needs him for State of Origin, insisting he’s “been ready for years” to represent Queensland.

If the Maroons want some extra impact from the bench after their flat display in a 44-12 mauling at the hands of NSW on Sunday night, they might not need to look any further than Horsburgh.

The 25-year-old has been a standout for Canberra over the past month and the timing of his rich vein of form couldn’t be better as the Origin series goes down to the wire.

Horsburgh has churned out an average of 149 metres a game with 50m post-contact in his past four NRL matches.

His output might be exactly what the Maroons need after Patrick Carrigan was the only Queensland forward to run for 100m on Sunday night.

Should Slater want him, Horsburgh said he wouldn’t let the Maroons coach down.

“I’ve been ready for years,” he told reporters.

“I love watching (Origin) and if I ever got the opportunity to play, I’m sure I’d take it with both hands … when it happens, it happens.”

At club level, Horsburgh is routinely gives the Raiders plenty of spark off the bench.

Horsburgh ranks eighth among the NRL’s bench forwards in running metres per minute (2.36m), although that stat in his most recent month has soared (3.07m) and would rank second in the league, behind only South Sydney’s Hame Sele (3.11m).

He’s been in the frame for Origin selection in recent years but has been hampered by a string of injuries.

But Horsburgh said his body was fit and firing heading into the back half of the NRL season.

“It’s the first time in a few years I haven’t had any niggly injuries and I’m starting to get my confidence back,” he said.

“I’m just really enjoying playing footy, I love rugby league … that’s why I’ve been playing a bit consistently lately, I’m just enjoying it and having fun and it’s not as serious any more.

“I’m loving footy at the moment and hopefully we keep building and stay injury-free.”