Two Former Origin Greats (FOGS) who played with heart and passion have endorsed fiery Canberra redhead Corey Horsburgh as a future Queensland player — possibly even as early as this year’s interstate series.

Chris “Choppy” Close, Maroon FOG #5 and Justin Hodges, Maroon FOG #130 are both fans of the bustling Caboolture 24-year-old who has zoomed into Queensland Origin calculations this season on the back of some strong NRL performances.

Hodges first met the raw teenager when he coached the Queensland Under 20s side in 2018.

His recollections of Horsburgh back then were of a big, strong red-haired country kid.

“You always want a red in your side because they are fearless and that’s the kind of player he was,” said Hodges who played 24 Origin games for Queensland between 2002 and 2015.

“Corey was an aggressive, fiery player, but a very polite kid.

“He never said much but when he did, he meant every word of it,” added Hodges, a member of Origin’s eight-series straight club (2006-2013 unbeaten).

“I love watching him play, I love watching all the boys I coached ….  but Big Red was a special player.

“He wasn’t as talented as some of the other players but he worked really hard and whenever I spoke to him, or Princey (assistant Scott Prince) or Paul Dyer spoke to him, he really listened and took it all in.

“He was really coachable.

“Some players think they know it all and they don’t want to learn but Corey was different, he sucked everything in.

“He always put the team first and that’s what it takes to be a great rep player.

“He was probably too aggressive at times and gave away some silly penalties but I love the way he plays with aggression, he just has to learn to control that aggression, especially in Origin which we know is a different beast.

Hodges couldn’t see any reason why Horsburgh could not take the next step in his rugby league journey.

“He handles the NRL really easily.

“He doesn’t need to be that special player; Queensland has plenty of those. He just needs to go out and be aggressive and intimidating and be that player who can unsettle the Blues.

“He can do that, that’s what he did for me back in 2018. I didn’t need him to be a special player, I needed him to be aggressive and get in their faces and I’m sure he could do that job for Billy (Queensland coach) Billy Slater.

But is he ready to pull on a Queensland jumper?

“He wouldn’t let Billy down I know that for a fact, said  Hodges.

“I can’t speak highly enough of him.

“I love the kid; he was a great guy to coach.

“He’s a redhead, you know he’ll go out there and throw his body at everything without fear.”

Close echoed many of Hodge’s thoughts about Horsburgh.

When it comes to passion there weren’t too many players, if any, who had as much of it as the man everyone knows as “Choppy” who gave everything for the Maroons in his 14 appearances for Queensland from 1979-85.

Being (FOGS) #5 is a badge of honour Close wears proudly on his sleeve as a member of Arthur Beeston’s 1980 Origin originals.

Along with Beetson, Wally Lewis, Mal Meninga and others, Close helped set the standard for those players who would pull on the revered maroon jumper in years to come.

Man-of-the-Match awards in Origin games one and two in 1980-81 at the old Lang Park Cauldron are reminders of what it meant to the boy from Cunnamulla — a small township of just over 1200 people situated approximately 750 kilometres west of Brisbane – to represent his state.

Choppy has watched Horsburgh’s development in recent seasons and admits he has been impressed by the attitude switch he has noticed this season.

In previous seasons Horsburgh has allowed his emotions to get out of control at times.

“When I played, I didn’t play emotionally, I played passionately,” Close said.

“I played with commitment and purpose for a reason – that reason was that it was so important and meant so much to me.

“But I was never out of control.

“I did a few things sure, but the rules were different back then.”

Close said it was up to Horsburgh how he played the game but added if he wanted to rise to the next level, he had to learn to control his emotions on the field and listen to what people, like his Raider’s coach Ricky Stuart, were telling him.

“If he can’t, then he is not going to be able to rise to the next level (Origin).

Close really likes how Horsburgh commits to every play.

“I’ve watched all his games so far this season and he seems to have that part of his game (emotions) under control pretty well.

“He is very focused on playing with really high energy.

“He commits himself and hasn’t allowed anything or anyone to distract himself from his task. He’s as good in defence as he is in attack. He uses his speed in both areas.

“He’s got good speed and agility and a big motor. His work ethic is exceptional.

Close noted Horsburgh had a “great streak of determination” that kept bringing him back into the game, which was really important.

“He competes for everything.

“There’s nothing in the game that he is not competing for.

“If he can keep that energy up and keep things under control like he has this year he is only going to get better and better and improve out of sight.

“He’s certainly tough. He’s got that toughness about him that he will need to survive at the next level.”

Horsburgh is playing some big minutes, with high energy, which is understood to have caught the attention of Queensland coach Billy Slater.