You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content

Kyle Feldt has a habit of making the impossible look ridiculously easy and it is a talent Maroons legends insist has him in contention for Queensland selection in State of Origin football.

The 26-year-old North Queensland Cowboys winger scored a hat trick in the 16-14 win over the Melbourne Storm in the testimonial match for Cameron Smith and Johnathan Thurston at Suncorp Stadium on Friday night.

He showed yet again why he is the ultimate big play maestro when he added another spectacular try to his highlights reel.

A cross-field kick by Michael Morgan floated through the night sky and Feldt timed his run to perfection and stuck out his right hand to pluck the ball from the air like shelling peas.

"Feldty has been on the fringe [of Origin] now for a couple of years and has been involved in some of our training camps for the past two seasons," Maroons and Melbourne captain Cameron Smith said.

"He’s pretty close and is playing in a team that plays consistent football and demands consistent football, and that is what Origin is all about.

Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith.
Johnathan Thurston and Cameron Smith. ©Scott Davis/NRL Photos

"Going off what Greeny [Cowboys coach Paul Green] said about him having the best preparation in any season he’s ever seen him have, that puts him in a really good position to have a crack at Origin this year.

"If he keeps coming up with some of the efforts he did tonight in the first part of the season then he is in with a very good chance."

Feldt got himself on the end of a Morgan pass to score a second try after half-time and his third on full time off a banana kick by Johnathan Thurston was another cracker.

The Cowboys winger returned to pre-season training this year in the best condition club insiders have ever seen him in and attended the Maroons Emerging Origin camp for the third time in January.

"Feldty had his best off-season so far and turned up in good shape. We could see his abs from day one which hasn’t been the case with Feldty," Cowboys coach Paul Green said.

“Hopefully what we saw tonight he can continue throughout the season."

Thurston said the preparation Feldt had this year had given him the confidence to play on the Origin stage.

"He has obviously played a lot of finals football now and understands how to prepare right and execute in big games," Thurston said.

"He is not far off [Origin] and no doubt if he continues how he is he will be knocking on the door."

Acknowledgement of Country

National Rugby League respects and honours the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

Premier Partner

Media Partners

Major Partners

View All Partners