By Sebastian Tan in 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 Blues debut.

Just days after being parachuted into the starting lineup 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 on Wednesday.

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 five-eighth jersey for game two on June 17.

Canberra’s mentor 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 the 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 the Raiders.

“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.”

For the Cowboys, Reuben Cotter is set to return after playing for Queensland on Wednesday night as they look to secure their ninth win in 11 matches.

Prop Tom Mikaele will make his 100th competition appearance while inform winger Murray Taulagi comes back from a concussion.